The document presents the xact 920, an XRF-based multi-metals continuous water analyzer designed for real-time monitoring in various water treatment applications, particularly within the power industry. It highlights the analyzer's capabilities, including its ability to measure up to 65 elements simultaneously and its non-destructive, stable, and cost-effective features for compliance and process efficiency. Field tests demonstrate the instrument's accuracy and reliability over extended periods, validating its application in diverse environments such as nuclear power plants and metal melting facilities.

1. XRF Based
Multi-Metals
Continuous
Water Analyzer
Roger van uden
EuropeanTech Serv nv
Power PlantWaterTreatment

2. Presentation
Outline
2
Potential
Applications
1
Analyzer
operation
2
Instrument
Capabilities
3
Testing and
Performance
•Laboratory
•Field
4

3. Why
Measure
Metals in
RealTime in
Water
Treatment
Processes
3
• Process monitoring – feedback for water
treatment may improve the efficiency of the
treatment process – use fewer chemicals to
achieve require effluent emission limits
• Measurement of Se, As for compliance with
Steam Electric Generating Effluent
Guidelines
• Monitoring of treatment of wastewater
by biological based treatment systems
• Measurement of Corrosion Products (e.g. Fe,
Ni, Cr and Mn) to improve operating
efficiency
• Measurement of Elements in Nuclear Power
Plant Applications (e.g. Pb, Cu, Fe)
• Reduce laboratory analysis costs

4. XRF BasedWater
Analyzer Basics
• Xact 920 Utilizes ED-XRF as analytical technique
• Water is spray dried and sampled onto filter tape
• The resulting filter tape deposit is analyzed by XRF
• Builds on two technologies developed and
commercialized by Cooper Environmental
• Ambient Air XRF Analyzer (over 100 in field)
• Quantitative AerosolGenerator (Developed
for Calibration of PM CEMS for the Power
Industry)
• Instrument can measure up to 65 elements
simultaneously
4

5. XRFTheory
• X-ray source is electrically powered NOT a
radionuclide source
• Incoming X-rays eject an inner shell electron
• Electrons from higher shells fill the vacancy
• This process releases energy in the form of
fluorescingX-rays
• Energy is characteristic of each element
• Intensity or brightness is related to the mass of
each element
5

6. Strengths of
XRF
• XRF utilizes inner shell electron transitions so
the response is not dependent on what the
element is chemically bound to
• Can measure a wide range of elements
simultaneously
• XRF is non-destructive – so samples can be
reanalyzed later
• XRF is very stable – calibrations can last for
years
• XRF response is linear over the a wide
concentration range (over 5 orders of
magnitude) – this means no additional
standards required depending on concentration
range
6

7. Measurable Elements
7
Elements of Potential Interest in the Power
Industry

8. General Operation Schematic - Xact 920
LBM
Pre-filter Sterilizer
Pump
Drying
Chamber
Internal
Standard
Carbon Trap
Flow Meter
Pump
Exhaust
Filters
Modified
Xact 625
Software Data
Processing/
reporting
Sample
Source
Sample pre-treatment
and transport
Sample
Analysis
Quantitative liquid
blending and sample
pre-concentration
DAP
Data acquisition
and processing
Xact 295
8
Sample is
aerosolized and
dried
Sampled onto filter tape and analyzed by XRF
LBM: Liquid Blending Module – this is where we combine the liquid sample flow with
the a liquid flow containing an internal standard

9. Instrument Systems
9
Drying
Chamber
XRF
Analyzer
Heater
Controls
Air Flow
Controls
Liquid
Blending
module
Exhaust Gas
Treatment
Main Power
panel

10. XRF Sampling and Analysis
X-Ray Tube
Filter Tape
Dried Aerosol
Deposit
Dried Aerosol from Drying Chamber
Analysis Area
Filter Tape

11. General Quantification - Xact 920
11
Internal
standard
Effluent
Quantitatively
blended
effluent and
internal
standard
Liquid Blending Module
XRF metals analysis
Compressed air
Blend
sample/
internal
Std.

12. Xact 920 – Quality Assurance
• XRF Portion Calibrated withTraceable to NIST
Thin Film Standards
• XRF spectrometer QA with every sample
• XRF StabilityCheck with Every sample
(Pd Rod)
• Daily upscale check of XRF
• Multi element upscale is inserted
once/day
• Includes energy calibration of detector
• Stability – XRF calibration frequency
~once/year – sometimes years between
calibrations
12

13. Xact 920 Capabilities
13

14. Xact 920 Detection Limits
14
15 30 60 120
S 3.8 3.7 1.3 0.47
Cl 2.0 2.0 0.72 0.25
K 1.4 1.4 0.49 0.17
Ca 0.36 0.35 0.12 0.044
Ti 0.19 0.19 0.066 0.023
V 0.14 0.14 0.050 0.018
Cr 0.14 0.14 0.048 0.017
Mn 0.17 0.17 0.059 0.021
Fe 0.20 0.20 0.070 0.025
Co 0.16 0.16 0.056 0.020
Ni 0.11 0.11 0.039 0.014
Cu 0.092 0.091 0.032 0.011
Zn 0.077 0.077 0.027 0.010
As 0.073 0.073 0.026 0.0091
Se 0.094 0.093 0.033 0.012
Br 0.12 0.12 0.042 0.015
Cd 2.9 2.9 1.0 0.36
Pb 0.15 0.15 0.052 0.018
Element
Sample time (minutes)
Detection Limit in ppb
68% Confidence, less then 50 ppm ofTDS
• 30 minute DL’s are less than
1ppb for most elements
• Detection Limit is a function of…
• Sampling time – more time
better detection limits
• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
• HighTDS can limit the
amount of preconcentration
that takes place – too much
material on tape can limit air
flow

15. Minimum Detection Limits (ppb)
(Standard Configuration)
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
0 5000 10000 15000 20000
DetectionLimit(ppb)
Dissolved Solid Conc. (ppm)
Xact 920 Detection Limits
60 minute Sample & AnalysisTime
C
r
C
u
A
s
15
*One sigma interference free detection limits
*Detection limits based off standardXact setup. Detection limits can be optimized based off elements of interest
Detection Limit Increases as
TDS increases
Limited by amount of flow
that can pass through the
tape at high aerosol
concentrations

16. Minimum Detection Limits (ppb)
(Standard Configuration)
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000
DetectionLimit(ppb)
Dissolved Solid Conc. (ppm)
Xact 920 Detection Limits
60 minute Sample & AnalysisTime
Cr
Cu
As
Pb
Se
16
*One sigma interference free detection limits
*Detection limits based off standardXact setup. Detection limits can be optimized based off elements of interest
Detection Limit Remains constant when sampling is not limited byTDS

17. Xact 920 laboratory
testing
17

18. Laboratory Results
Low Concentration Drift
400
420
440
460
480
500
520
540
560
580
600
9/59:36
9/512:00
9/514:24
9/516:48
9/519:12
9/521:36
9/60:00
9/62:24
9/64:48
9/67:12
9/69:36
9/612:00
9/614:24
9/616:48
9/619:12
9/621:36
9/70:00
9/72:24
9/74:48
9/77:12
MeasuredConcentration(ng/g)
Ni (ppb)
Cu (ppb)
Zn (ppb)
As (ppb)
Cd (ppb)
Pb (ppb)
18
Metal Zero Drift
Average
Measured
Value (ng/g)
Standard
Deviation
(ng/g)
N % RSD
Actual Value
(ng/g)
RPE
Ni 0.3% 525.6 3.6
75
0.7% 501.8 -5%
Cu -0.5% 463.3 4.0 0.9% 508.1 9%
Zn -0.2% 483.4 3.5 0.7% 501.8 4%
As 0.1% 506.5 3.4 0.7% 505.7 0%
Cd 0.8% 550.7 9.3 1.7% 497.7 -11%
Pb 0.3% 521.7 4.7 0.9% 509.4 -2%
30
MINUTE
MODE
%RSD= Percent relative standard deviation – it is the standard deviation divided by the average
RPE= Relative percent error

19. Laboratory Results – Span Drift
19
Metal Span Drift
Average
Measured
Value (ng/g)
Standard
Deviation
(ng/g)
N % RSD
Actual
Value
(ng/g)
RPE
Ni -1.7% 8498.5 47.6
84
0.6% 7930 -7.2%
Cu -1.9% 7479.4 39.7 0.5% 7994 6.4%
Zn 1.4% 7760.4 40.7 0.5% 7894 1.7%
As -1.5% 8117.8 48.8 0.6% 7957 -2.0%
Cd -2.6% 8320.3 117.9 1.4% 7831 -6.3%
Pb 1.4% 8397.9 50.7 0.6% 8015 -4.8%
7200
7400
7600
7800
8000
8200
8400
8600
8800
9/714:24
9/716:48
9/719:12
9/721:36
9/80:00
9/82:24
9/84:48
9/87:12
9/89:36
9/812:00
9/814:24
9/816:48
9/819:12
9/821:36
9/90:00
9/92:24
9/94:48
9/97:12
9/99:36
9/912:00
9/914:24
9/916:48
MeasuredConcentration(ng/g)
Ni (ppb)
Cu (ppb)
Zn (ppb)
As (ppb)
Cd (ppb)
Pb (ppb)
30
MINUTE
MODE

20. 20
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
MeasuredConcentration(ng/g)
Actual Concentration (ng/g)
Ni
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
MeasuredConcentration(ng/g)
Actual Concentration (ng/g)
Cu
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
MeasuredConcentration(ng/g)
Actual Concentration (ng/g)
Zn
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
MeasuredConcentration(ng/g)
Actual Concentration (ng/g)
As
Laboratory Results – Linearity
NO Change In Calibration Over Solution
Concentration Range
Xact Shows Linearity Over a Range
Spanning 5 Orders of Magnitude

21. More Linearity
21
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
MeasuredConcentration(ng/g)
Actual Concentration (ng/g)
Cd
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
MeasuredConcentration(ng/g)
Actual Concentration (ng/g)
Pb

22. Low Concentration Linearity
22
Test Reps
Sol'n
Conc.
(ppb)
Avg.
Conc.
Reported
(ppb)
Stdev.
Conc.
Reported
(ppb)
Avg. %
Error
Sol'n
Conc.
(ppb)
Avg.
Conc.
Reported
(ppb)
Stdev.
Conc.
Reported
(ppb)
Avg. %
Error
Sol'n
Conc.
(ppb)
Avg.
Conc.
Reported
(ppb)
Stdev.
Conc.
Reported
(ppb)
Avg. %
Error
Zero 3 0 0.01 0.02 N/A 0 0.06 0.03 N/A 0 0.00 0.00 N/A
1 ppb 6 1.10 0.99 0.05 -10.0% 0.994 1.02 0.05 3.01% 1.08 0.99 0.09 -7.99%
5 ppb 4 5.03 5.73 0.73 14.0% 4.91 4.82 0.10 -1.93% 5.33 5.23 0.12 -1.85%
10 ppb 4 10.1 10.30 0.15 2.07% 9.95 9.81 0.07 -1.42% 10.8 11.02 0.26 2.17%
20 ppb 7 20.2 20.23 1.34 0.333% 25.3 24.36 0.70 -3.71% 26.1 26.29 1.53 0.689%
Iron (Fe) Copper (Cu) Lead (Pb)ID
• Testing done as a factory
acceptance test for Nuclear
Power Plant Application
• This test shows accuracy and
Linearity at very low
concentrations

23. Laboratory Results – Accuracy in High
TDS
23
[As]Meas = 50.8±4 ng/g (1, N= 435); [As]actual = 52.5±0.3 ng/g; RPE = 3.2 ± 0.2%
TDS=1,619 ppm (1.6 mg/g, 0.16% w/w)
CaSO4
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
10/20:00
10/212:00
10/30:00
10/312:00
10/40:00
10/412:00
10/50:00
10/512:00
10/60:00
10/612:00
10/70:00
10/712:00
10/80:00
10/812:00
10/90:00
10/912:00
10/100:00
10/1012:00
10/110:00
10/1112:00
10/120:00
10/1212:00
10/130:00
MeasuredConcentration(ng/g)
Actual As (ppb)
Measured As (ppb)
30
MINUTE
MODE Results show good stability at higherTDS
For Umicore: levels ofTDS are low enough to not be an issue

24. 24
Laboratory Results – Accuracy in
HighTDS
[Pb]Meas = 92.8±6.8 ng/g (1, N= 435); [Pb]actual = 96.2±0.3 ng/g; RPE = 3.5 ± 0.3%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
10/20:00
10/212:00
10/30:00
10/312:00
10/40:00
10/412:00
10/50:00
10/512:00
10/60:00
10/612:00
10/70:00
10/712:00
10/80:00
10/812:00
10/90:00
10/912:00
10/100:00
10/1012:00
10/110:00
10/1112:00
10/120:00
10/1212:00
10/130:00
MeasuredConcentration(ng/g)
Actual Pb (ppb)
Measured Pb (ppb)
TDS=1,619 ppm (1.6 mg/g, 0.16% w/w) CaSO4
30
MINUTE
MODE
For Umicore: levels ofTDS are low enough to not be an issue

25. Xact 920 field
demonstration
25

26. Field Demonstration
• Field test done at one of the world’s largest metal melting
facilities
• Water from several plant processes and run-off from
snowmelt and water sprayed to reduce fugitive emissions
• MetalsTreatment included adding lime slurry to raise PH
(~10.5) and a flocculant to precipitate metals
• Sampling done downstream of clarifier
• Instrument operated at facility for over four months
26

27. Xact 920 Installation
27
Xact Sample Probe
Effluent
Flow

28. Xact 920-ICP-MS Comparison
Multi-Element Standard
28
• After instrument installed in the field the instrument was tested using
a multi element standard
• Gravimetric Results – how the Xact compared with the known
concentration of the solution
• ICP-MS – How the Xact compared with analysis off line by Inductively
Couple Plasma Mass Spectroscopy

29. Xact 920-ICP-MS Comparison
“As Found” Grab Sample
29
• Average percent difference less than 20% for all elements exceptTl
• Good agreement between ICP-MS and the Xact
• In generally good stability in the analysis results from the Xact –
the relative percent standard deviation is less than 20% for all
elements except copper
• …. Indicates values lower than the LOQ for the Xact
LOQ= Limit of Quantitation

30. Measurement
of Spiked
Samples
30
• Effluent samples were spiked with several
elements of interest at two concentration
levels (30, and 300 ppb)
• The resulting solutions were measured by
the Xact 920 and by ICP-MS
• The percent difference between the Xact
and ICP-MS was determined
• Percent recovery for the Xact was calculated

31. Xact 920-ICP-MS Comparison
Spiked Grab Sample
31
• Results within 20% of ICP-MS for all elements
• Percent relative standard deviation less than 10% for all
elements indicating good precision in the measurement

32. Xact 920 Spike Recovery Results
32
• Percent recovery calculated for all elements – a value of 100% would
represent a perfect result
• EPA 200.8 Criteria for spiked recovery is 100% +/- 30% - All of the elements
met this criteria

33. Measuring Se
in Coal Mine
Water Effluent
33

34. Coal Mine
Grab Sample
Experimental
Setup
34
ANALYZED GRAB
SAMPLE FOR TOTAL SE
ANALYZED SPIKED
GRAB SAMPLE FOR
TOTAL SE
SUBMIT RESULTS TO
CLIENT
CLIENT SENDS US
REGULAR LABORATORY
TOTAL SE ANALYSIS
RESULTS
COMPARE RESULTS

35. Coal Mine Grab Sample – Xact
920 vs Lab Analysis
35
Conc. (ppb) σ (ppb) Conc. (ppb) σ (ppb) *
% σ*
Grab sample (sampled 11/7/2016) 25.6 4.3 31 2 -17 15
*
CES assumed an uncertainty of 5% for TRL analysis
Sample Info
Avg. Xact 920 Analysis Lab. Analysis Percent Error
• Xact 920 and Laboratory result agree within 20%
Se Spiked Conc.* Measured Se Conc. σ Se Conc. Spike Recovery Stdev Spike recovery RPD
ng/g ng/g ng/g % % %
022317_48 Grab sample as received 30.3 3.1
022317_49 Grab sample as received 21.9 2.3
022317_50 Grab sample as received 24.6 2.5
Average Grab sample as received 25.6 4.3**
021717_40 Grab+50 ng/g Se spike 51.3 87.2 9.0 120.3
021717_41 Grab+50 ng/g Se spike 51.3 80.7 8.3 107.5
022017_44 Grab+200 ng/g Se spike 197.6 201.0 6.5 88.9
022017_45 Grab+200 ng/g Se spike 197.6 208.9 6.8 93.0
Note:
* Total Se (solution consists of 89.03% Se6+ and 10.97% Se4+)
** Standard deviation of three measured replicates
9.0 11.2
2.9 4.4
Sample Information Xact 920
Run ID Sample Description
N/A N/A N/A N/A
• Spiked recovery results well within EPA recommended range of 70% to
130%

36. Conclusions
36
XRF Based Metals
Water Analyzer is
able to measure a
wide range of metals
at concentrations
down to less than 1
ppb
Provides results that
are comparable to
those obtained by
laboratory analysis
Is robust enough to
operating in
demanding field
conditions