Development of confocal 3d micro XRF spectrometer and its application to rice grain

Abstract

A new 3D-micro XRF instrument based on confocal set-up using two polycapillary X-ray lenses was developed and applied to rice-grain. The depth resolution of the confocal 3D-XRF spectrometer, which was evaluated by 10 μm thick Au foil, was approximately 90 μm. It was confirmed that the background intensity was reduced by applying polycapillary half lens. In the confocal set-up, 3D-elemental mapping of major elements in the rice grain was performed nondestructively at ambient air pressure. Two-dimensional elemental maps for K, Ca and Fe were obtained at different depths (200, 400 and 500 μm from the surface) in the embryo of the rice grain. Major elements, such as K, Ca and Fe, in the rice grain showed different mapping images in the different layers, respectively. © 2006 The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.