International Journal of PIXE

This paper describes a shell which facilitates the use of the existing PIXE analysis software package PIXAN. In this work, we designed, wrote and examined several PIXE spectra in a utility program that is called WPASS. The WPASS program merely links PIXAN modules and makes their use more convenient than before. The WPASS program handles automatically PEAKFIT (BATTY) and THICK programs. It outputs the results into several files belonging to the same data file. These include converting data files from one-column-format OCF to PIXANPC format; control, graphics, and result files from PEAKFIT; control and result files from THICK; options for graphical plotting the results on the PC and converting the graphics files for their components for publications of the results. WPASS has new features that consider the secondary interelement fluorescence. WPASS has been used successfully for the analysis of PIXE spectra and inner-shell ionization studies.

The method of quantitative analysis of oil samples in in-air PIXE has been developed on the basis of a standard-free method. The components of the continuous X-rays originated from air and backing film can be exactly subtracted using a blank spectrum after normalization by the yields of Ar K-α X-rays. The method was developed using nine oil samples including standard oils and its accuracy was confirmed by comparing the results with those obtained by the internal-standard method. Validity of the method for practical oil samples was confirmed for various kinds of oils such as engine, machine and cooking oils. It was found that the method is effective for various kinds of oils whatever elements we designate as an index element.

Concentrations of the chemotherapeutic agent, cis-diamminedichloro-platinum(II) (CDDP) in NFSa fibrosarcoma tumors were investigated using a conventional PIXE analysis on the basis of an internal standard method to study enhancement of antitumor effects caused by proton therapy combined with CDDP treatment. Results of the PIXE analysis showed that platinum concentration of the tumors treated with CDDP at a single dose of 10 mg/kg was 2.0±0.1 µg/g and persisted at the level at least 6 hours after the administration. The present study demonstrated that the presence of CDDP in the tumor caused an enhanced therapeutic effect on tumor growth delay when CDDP treatment was combined with post proton-irradiation in comparison with CDDP treatment alone or proton therapy alone.

The mean concentrations of Al, Si, Cl, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, As, Br, Rb and Sr have been determined in treated tap water, natural mineral, and untreated ground water of Iraq using non-destructive Proton Induce X-ray Emission (PIXE) analysis in combination with pre-concentration technique. In order to increase analytical sensitivity of the most elements detected by PIXE method, water samples were pre-concentrated by evaporation at 50°C under atmospheric pressure, to obtain dry dissolved solids. A 2.0 MeV proton beam was employed to excite the samples. Certified reference materials (GSP-2) were used in order to verify accuracy of the PIXE technique and the experimental results were in a good agreement with certified values. The concentration of these elements varied from one city to other depending on the geographical locations where the samples were collected. Our results were within the permissible limits reported by Iraqi standards, European standards, and WHO guidelines for drinking water quality. The main objective of this work was to characterize and to monitor the trace elements in drinking water and untreated ground water of Iraq, as well as to provide valuable information about the levels of heavy metallic pollutions.

Because of high traffic density, bad sanitary conditions and other human activities, the urban areas of Lahore have become highly polluted. Very simple and quick method for the survey of aerosol over a large area is described. Freefall aerosol settled on the tree leaves picked from roadside of twelve localities of Lahore was collected and analyzed for seventeen trace elements down to g/g level by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE). The investigation shows that the cleaner residential areas have much less concentration of trace elements of anthropogenic origin. Lead (Pb) has been detected in the areas of heavy traffic and close to the factory area, however, it is difficult to trace its origin because the gasoline used in Pakistan is unleaded.

Arsenic concentration in 13 well waters, 9 pond waters, 10 agricultural waters and a coconut juice taken in Comilla district, Bangladesh, where the problem of arsenic pollution is the most severe, was investigated. High-level arsenic is detected even in the well water which has been kept drinking by the people. Relatively high arsenic concentration was detected for some pond and farm waters even though the sampling was performed just after the rainy season and the waters were expected to be highly diluted. Clear relationship was observed in elemental compositions between the pond water and the coconut juice collected at the edge of the water. These results are expected to become the basic information for evaluating the risk of individual food such as cultured fishes, shrimps and farm products, and for controlling total intakes of arsenic. In order to solve the problem of transportation of water samples internationally, a simple method of target preparation performed at the sampling cite was established and its validity was confirmed. All targets were prepared at the sampling cites in this study on the basis of this method.

Pteris vittata is a fern reported to be an arsenic hyper-accumulator. To develop the practical application of the fern to a phytoremediation technique, it is necessary to explicate the effective accumulation mechanism. In this study, the arsenic distribution and the elemental correlation in the cellular level were examined in the fronds supplied with arsenate and arsenite separately via xylem vessel using an in-air micro-PIXE system at Tohoku University. The difference in transportation rate between arsenate and arsenite as well as the translocation of elements necessary for plant metabolism was revealed in different tissues of the fronds accumulating arsenic in high concentration. Hence, the in-air micro-PIXE analysis is an effective measure for undertaking phytoremediation research of hyper-accumulator plants.

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.