From canaries in the mine to portable elemental analysis: What are the most cutting-edge XRF solutions for building materials process control?
One of the most ingenious innovations in industrial history was the introduction of canaries into mine shafts at the beginning of the 20th century to detect poisonous gas. It put the ability to see the invisible directly into the hands of the people closest to the action. This approach now extends beyond the point of excavation to process and final product quality control.
This blog will focus on the latest X-ray fluorescence (XRF) solutions empowering technicians and operators in modern building materials mines, laboratories, and processing plants. These instruments enhance operators’ ability to monitor elemental composition and use these insights to optimize every process from extraction to final quality control.
Laboratory solutions
The most conventional location for elemental analysis is the laboratory. Whether it’s off-site or on-site, the laboratory offers several advantages. As a dedicated space separated from process environments, it can house instruments with more sensitive, high-performance parts, as well as instruments with a higher power consumption. And of course, the lab is where you’ll usually find the people with the highest level of expertise in various analysis methods.
It makes sense, therefore, that the most powerful and precise XRF solutions are laboratory-based, for example, the Zetium. This instrument provides sub-parts-per-million (ppm) sensitivity and percentage values for key elements like beryllium and americium. Its high sensitivity makes it ideal for the most demanding applications, which can include R&D as well as process and quality control for the most tightly regulated products.
If speed is a high priority, the Axios FAST may be the best XRF solution for your lab. It measures up to 28 key elements simultaneously with ppm precision, and is most suitable for high-throughput applications where every second counts. These can include service labs, the analysis of mining samples, and a wide range of production and quality control applications in the iron and steel industry.
At-line analysis
Although smaller, less power-consuming instruments can find their place in the modern laboratory, much like the canary, they serve their purpose best when they’re close to the action. Such instruments need a robust build to withstand the hardships of the process environment, and they also need to be fast and easy to use. Operators of different skill levels need to get data quickly to factor it into their decision-making.
The Epsilon 4 is one such instrument, with its benchtop format and lower power consumption enabling at-line elemental analysis. It handles a wide variety of sample types and sizes, including solids, pressed and loose powders, as well as liquids and filters. Despite its small size, it can perform sub-ppm analysis of up to 82 elements, including carbon, fluorine, and americium.
If you need at-line analysis for a high-throughput environment, you can turn to Revontium™ – the world’s first compact XRF instrument. This size category bridges the performance of floor-standing XRF and the versatility of table-top instruments, providing a more than 25% lower cost of ownership than the former and much higher throughput than the latter.
Portable analysis
Beyond compact and benchtop instruments like the Revontium and Epsilon 4, there is the even smaller portable format, suitable both at-line and directly at the point of extraction of raw materials. In such locations, operators don’t always have the resources for even simple sample preparation, so the instrument needs to be able to perform highly accurate analysis directly. It also needs a very simple setup – there’s no possibility for helium or vacuum pumps at an extraction site!
For such applications, there’s the Epsilon 1. It is commonly used for environmental checks, detecting heavy metals contaminants in compliance with international standards. It is also used for the analysis of alternative fuels and raw materials thanks to its standardless analysis. The Epsilon 1 is a highly flexible instrument, so operators can also use it for on-site process and quality control of cement, clinker, and raw materials.
The near future of XRF analysis in the building materials industry
Just like canaries were eventually replaced by gas detectors with digital readings, less sophisticated process control methods in the building materials industry have been replaced by technologies like XRF and the instruments discussed in this blog.
The next step for building materials manufacturers is undoubtedly automation – and this can extend to materials analysis as well. Whether you require automation features for the instruments themselves or help designing entirely automated analysis laboratories, Malvern Panalytical can help you stay at the cutting edge of building materials innovation.
Contact our experts to find out how we can support you to improve your productivity and sustainability by enhancing your materials analysis.