干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

This study introduces the application of the synchrotron radiation induced X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) microprobe installed at the Super Photon ring-8 GeV (SPring-8), which is the world’s largest third-generation synchrotron radiation facility, to the specification of chemical properties of various atmospheric samples. The combination of visual elemental mapping and XRF spectral analyses allows for the interpretation of the nature and composition of individual particles. Individually collected droplets by the replication technique were also irradiated by X-ray microbeam to carry out visual reconstruction of elemental maps for their multiple components. The multielemental peaks corresponding to X-ray energy were also successfully resolved. Because the chemical contents of solute for individual droplets can be definitely clarified in this study, we can describe the mechanisms involved in droplet formation and pollutant scavenging. The point analysis of sand dust collected from the local desert in China confirmed that the fine fragments of sand, which may be lifted and transported over a long distance, are considerably inhomogeneous in elemental component.