Program setup and parameter dependences of GUPIXWIN-calculated trace element concentration measured by PIXE analysis

Abstract

In our practice of applying GUPIXWIN software in calculations of the trace element concentrations in biosamples measured by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique, we found that the calculated concentration data critically depended on the program setup and experimental parameters input to the software. Dependences on some important setups and parameters such as the solution types (i.e. Trace element solution in a known matrix and Iterative matrix element solution), matrix composition, detector parameters (e.g. window thickness), sample structure, normalization, etc., which are sometimes easily not paid with intensive attention by users, are analyzed and discussed utilizing our PIXE spectra of some biosamples. We found that most parameters or program setups were critical to affect the calculated results, but some such as normalization was not. We also found that if only relative trace element concentrations instead of their absolute values are concerned, different program setup solutions resulted in similar data. We conclude that meticulous care must be taken in selection of the experimental parameters and setup conditions in using GUPIXWIN to make correct calculations of the trace element concentrations in biological or organic samples.