An electron microprobe is an electron microscope designed for the non-destructive x-ray microanalysis and imaging of solid materials. It is essentially a hybrid instrument combining the capabilities of both the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), with the added features of fine-spot focusing (~ 1 micrometer), optical microscope imaging, and precision...

corophium volutator (pallas) has been recommended by the paris commission as one of the standard species for testing chemical used in offshore oil and gas exploration/production. in the present study, gut contents of corophium volutator have been analysed by electron probe microanalysis (epma) for baso4 and other heavy metal impurities after exposure tto spiked sediments following a standard as...

We present methods combining backscattered-electron (BSE) mosaic imaging, quantitative spot-mode electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA), and quantitative compositional mapping by EPMA and micro-xray fluorescence (μXRF) to provide a framework for detailed analysis of terrestrial and lunar samples. BSE imaging provides a base map for the characterization of samples by EPMA. Recent developments in im...

Among the microanalytical techniques, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) is one of the most powerful. Its performances can be used to provide an accurate characterization. In the present article the differences between the EPMA of highly irradiated materials and standard EPMA are highlighted. It focuses on the shielded EPMA specificities. Then, the article presents the difficulties encountered...

Copper oxide has been detected in the copper containing alloys of NBS Standard Reference Material (SRM) 482. This occurrence is significant because it represents heterogeneity within a standard reference material that was certified to be homogeneous on a micrometer scale. Oxide occurs as elliptically to spherically shaped precipitates whose size differs with alloy composition. The largest preci...

This article will discuss the importance of Raimond Castaing's thesis on the genesis of a nondestructive and truly quantitative microanalytical method that assisted the scientific community in moving forward in the development of microanalytical instruments. I will also share with you my recollection of the decades of improvement in the electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), that has allowed us t...

Biotin has been successfully incorporated into polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibers through electrospinning to prepare membrane substrates for biosensors based on biotin–streptavidin specific binding. Biotin incorporated PLA nanofiber membranes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and confocal microscopy. Under optimized conditions, small ...

The analytical electron microscope (AEM) uses a high energy (>100 kV) beam of electrons to generate a range of signals from a thin foil sample as shown in figure la [1,2]. Various detectors are configured in the AEM to pick up most of the generated signals (fig. lb). Microanalysis is usually performed using the characteristic x-ray signal, detected by an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) alt...

Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) is used to quantify with a high accuracy the amount of different elements present on a sample of unknown composition. In the nuclear field, EPMA is largely used to quantify the amount of actinides present in fresh and irradiated fuels. EPMA is also used to manage waste disposal, to analyze sample from severe accidents and to assess the design of next-generati...