ABSTRACT
Particulate matters, gaseous chemicals, and heavy metals emitted from industrial processes into the environment could be directly transmitted to humans through air inhalation. In order to accurately estimate health risk and control the source of pollution caused by cement raw meal, an online X-ray fluorescence analyzer system, consisting of an X-ray fluorescence analyzer with data acquisition software and a laser rangefinder, was developed to carry out the measurement of heavy metals in cement raw meal. The X-ray fluorescence analyzer was mounted on a sled, which can effectively smooth the surface of cement raw meal and reduce the impact of surface roughness during online measurement. The laser rangefinder was mounted over the sled for measuring the distance between cement raw meal sample and the analyzer. Several heavy metals and other elements in cement raw meal were online measured by the X-ray fluorescence analyzer directly above a conveyor belt. The limits of detection for Pb, Cr, Fe, Ti, Ca, and S by the analyzer were 47 ± 1, 33 ± 1, 37 ± 1, 44 ± 1, 246 ± 4, and 118 ± 1 mg kg−1, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for the elements mentioned was less than 10.7%. By comparison with the results by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and CHNS/O elemental analyzer, relative deviation (D) of the online X-ray fluorescence analyzer was less than 7.4% for Fe, Ti, Ca, and S, between 1.71% and 12.10% for Pb and Cr.