NXSIM: A normalized XRF standardless iterative simulation method for qualitative and quantitative XRF analysis via MCNP

Abstract

A normalized XRF standardless iterative simulation method (NXSIM) is proposed. Various methods are available to perform quantitative analysis with the XRF method. Many of these methods have laborious and costly processes that require sample preparations, specific reference materials, and repeated measurements. For such reasons, researchers continue to search for methods that provide more accurate and faster results. The main goals of this study are to obtain much faster results with acceptable accuracy by eliminating the need for repeated experimental measurements and reference samples. In this study, XRF spectrometry simulations were carried out with the scattering geometry designed in the MCNP 6.2 code system. The obtained results were used to perform quantitative analysis for experimentally prepared samples. After six samples with different element content and composition were prepared by the press pellet method, XRF spectra were obtained experimentally. Simulations were run with random element weight percentages using the elements in the sample. The elemental compositions of the samples were determined by the iteration method developed from the simulation results and experimental results. According to the results obtained, it has been demonstrated that XRF quantitative analysis can be performed by NXSIM with acceptable precision and accuracy.