Narrow Results

Proton Induced X-ray Emission Technique (PIXE) has been used in analyzing Gold standards of 22, 20, 18, and 14 karats with a proton beam of Energy 3.3 MeV at the newly commissioned Folded Tandem Ion Accelerator (FOTIA) at B.A.R.C, Trombay. Well resolved Au and Ag X-rays were detected at a current of 3 nA. Percentage values of gold and silver were calculated and were checked with those obtained by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Method and were found to be in agreement with the certified values as well as those obtained by XRF.

Metal monitoring is one of the major concern of biological and bio-medical research. The Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) which is a multi elemental and non-destructive technique for trace element analysis has been set up at the Folded Tandem Ion accelerator (FOTIA) at BARC, Trombay, Mumbai, India. A few of the bioscience applications carried out at the Van de Graaff Laboratory using PIXE will be summarized in this presentation. Tea leaves obtained from the eastern region of India were analyzed by PIXE using 2.5 MeV protons. Trace elements such K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb and Sr were present in varying concentration in the tea leaves. The soil analysis showed Ti, Y, Zr and Nb in addition to the elements shown in the leaves. Blood samples of children exposed to vehicular traffic exhaust were analyzed for its Pb content and it was seen that the concentrations of Pb in the blood of the children were high (6.0 μg/ml). Pb poisoning of air due to vehicular exhaust is a major concern and cause for air pollution leading to high blood lead levels in children.

X-ray Emission Techniques (EDXRF) and External Proton Induced X-ray Emission Technique (PIXE) have been used to characterize 13 gem stones obtained from Gem Testing Laboratory, Jaipur, India. Radioisotope sources ¹⁰⁹Cd and ²⁴¹Am were used to excite the gem stones to generate K and L X-rays in the low and high Z region of the periodic table to investigate trace element inclusions besides the main matrix. A proton beam of 4 MeV energy and current of 8 nA intensity were extracted from the FOTIA (Folded Tandem Ion Accelerator) at VandeGaaff Accelerator, Trombay, Mumbai in air through a Kapton foil of 8 micrometer thick mounted on a Teflon cone. Gem stones such as Labradorite Feldspar, Moonstone Feldspar, Almandine Garnet, Tsavorite Garnet, Apatite, Natural Spinel, Natural Zircon, Spessartine Garnet, Natural Ruby (Lead filled), Natural Ruby were characterized for their elemental profile to see the differences in composition besides the main matrix differences. Elements such as Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr, Y and Zr were detected.