Monday, September 22, 2008
2008 R&D 100 Winner
The primary function of an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer is to quickly determine the elemental chemistry of samples without altering them in any way. It achieves this by measuring a broad spectrum of the fluorescent x-rays emitted by different elements in the sample when it is illuminated by high-energy photons (the x-rays) produced by the analyzer. The Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t, from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Billerica, Mass., goes beyond this to provide users with real-time, in situ testing with laboratory quality results.
The Niton XL3t is a handheld, battery-operated, x-ray tube-sourced XRF analyzer that weighs less than 3 lbs. It is available with an analytical range from magnesium through the transuranic elements, with detection limits ranging from ppm through 100% concentration. It improves upon conventional XRF analyzers in that it achieves results up to four times faster and with two times greater precision for an equivalent measurement time. In addition, it features a 50 kV, 2 W x-ray tube, the highest power x-ray tube offered in a handheld XRF analyzer.
Technology
X-ray tube-sourced XRF analyzer
Developer
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
