Portable XRF Spectrometers

XRF (X-ray fluorescence) is a type of NDT (non-destructive testing) technique that can be used to detect and measure the concentration of elements in a sample. It`s unique and almost universal technique can be used with high-quality handheld XRF gun Elvatech (handheld XRF).
An X-ray fluorescent analyzer Elvatech detects chemical composition sample contents by using an X-ray source to measure the secondary ways (fluorescent) the sample emits. This is a multi-elemental and fast chemical analysis.

Showing all 4 results

ProSpector 2

Proved by time handheld, portable XRF spectrometer for chemical analysis

ProSpector 3

New generation portable XRF spectrometer for chemical analysis

ElvaX Geo

Handheld XRF spectrometer chemical analysis in mining and exploration industries

ElvaX Mobile

Portable and durable XRF laboratory in field

How does work X-ray Fluorescence (XRF)?

X-Ray Fluorescence is a type of NDT (Nod-destructive testing) technique that is used to detect and measure the concentration of chemical elements in different materials. Portable XRF guns Elvatech are widely used in many different industries and areas of science and is considered to be as one of the main methods for elemental chemical analysis, due to its simplicity and quite easy sample preparation before analysis, and due to high speed of XRF spectrometers, which provides incredible accuracy during seconds. X-ray fluorescent technology is based on measurement of a characteristic lines of elements present in a sample when exposed to X-Ray. Energy of characteristic lines is detected by energies of allowed electron states in an atom, which is unique to every element in periodic table. Certain characteristic lines, present in sample and their relative intensities allow accurately measure chemical composition of different materials.

Which elements can XRF spectrometers measure?

Portable XRF (pXRF) spectrometers detect wide range of chemical elements, every single element from Na (11) to U (92) in periodic table. Though, each model of XRF spectrometers may have different limit of detection. That depends on such parameters as x-ray tube voltage (40 keV or 50 keV), detector type and detector area (8mm, 13mm, 25 mm etc), quantity and quality of certain filters, measurement time etc.

For which reasons XRF instruments cannot measure some elements?

XRF spectroscopy has its limitations as any other types of NDT testing. XRF method struggles with light elements detection, due to a good deal more significant back scattering of low-energy photons in air, and low x-ray fluorescence quantum yield of light elements. The vast majority of XRF analysers cannot detect chemical elements lighter than sodium (Z = 11), such as carbon.

For what does portable XRF Gun stand for?

Handheld XRF guns are highly portable and lightweight and that is able to provide chemical analysis starting from 2 seconds. At the same time, a regular laboratory usually analyzes samples for days and sometimes even weeks. All Elvatech portable XRF analysers are designed and developed for:
  • Use in a wide range of applications, from scrap metal to mining analysis
  • Incredible repeatability in measuring materials from minerals to arts
  • Fast in-field real time multi elemental analysis
  • NDT analysis
Handheld analyzer from Elvatech are used to analyze grades and chemical composition of alloys, jewelry. That allows to see if they are authentic, to screen hazardous materials, sort car catalysts, scrap metals, etc. This instruments allow to explore a wide range of materials on-site with a lightweight, advanced mini-lab with advanced technology in your hand. Elvatech`s spectrometers are the fastest in the world and can help to get chemical composition in some seconds.

Industries and Applications of portable XRF spectrometers ELVATECH

A handheld XRF spectrometer is helpful in the following commercial and other applications:
  • Alloys Identification. Positive Material Identification (PMI) can be provided with Elvatech portable guns. These spectrometers demonstrate fast analysis with precise (repeatable) and accurate (close to true value) results to ensure identification of materials. Non-destructive method is critically important for many industries.
  • Consumer safety control. Many regulations like the EU`s Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) forced many manufacturers to look for faster, cheaper, and more precise ways of material research. A testing gun from Elvatech will analyze a finished item or its component in seconds, saving time and effort and ensuring consumer safety.
  • Archaeometry. Due to the completely non-destructive way of analysis and portability, a handheld XRF analyzer will help research and date ancient relics and old works of art.
  • Oil and fuel. An analysis of oils, fuels, and similar substances, you can detect any hazardous elements or mannitol oil blending.
  • Agriculture and environment. A small XRF gun can analyze soil and detect any signs of contamination, helping to raise awareness of the damage we bring to the planet and choosing proper sites for agriculture.
In every aforementioned application, you need a handheld XRF analyzer that is fast, precise, and reasonably priced. You can find all these specifications and more in Elvatech`s XRF guns.  

Our Portable XRF Spectrometers

All our portable XRF analysers are appropriate for chemical analysis of different materials.

ProSpector 2

The most prominent benefits of this model are:
  • Incredibly high intensity with speed above 500,000 CPS (counts per second)
  • Great repeatability because of automatic drift corrections and corrections of pressure and temperature
  • Around 10 hours of operation from one battery charge in field
  • Protective shield of the detector
  • Large library of alloys grades with ability to add or edit existing grades
  • No additional tools needed for some maintenance
  • ElvaXTM PC software compatibility to export results to your PC
ProSpector 2 is a great choice for those who need reliable hardware and innovative software. It’s interface is very friendly and that is why very intuitive and understandable even for beginner operators.

ProSpector 3

ProSpector 3 is an advanced version of ProSpector3, which possesses all the benefits of ProSpector 2 plus:
  • The lightest analyser in the world with just 1.05 kg
  • Waterproof and dustproof certificate IP-67. This is the only one analyser in the world which was certified and tested to analyze materials underwater
  • Camera and collimator for analysis of very small objects and ability to spot on them (excellent for jewelry analysis where you one needs to analyse 3 mm spot)
  • 16 hours of operation from one battery charge is the best performance through portable analysers in the world
  • A display can be folded for more convenient operation without connection a PC right away
  • No need for calibration against standard sample
  • Micro and macro resolution due to the 2 highly sensitive CCD cameras
  • WiFi, Bluetooth, and USB connection possible, plus a microSD slot for additional storage
ProSpector 3 is highly portable, durable, the fastest, possesses the best LOD and incredible precision.

ElvaX Geo

Another series by Elvatech, ElvaX Geo offers the specific performance:
  • Designed to measure minerals in exploration and mining without manual calibration
  • Extremely large detector area (up to 80 mm) helps to exclude errors of analysis of inhomogeneous samples (mostly, for minerals without samples preparation)
  • Ability to use with portable workstation makes that a benchtop lab in field using ElvaXTM PC software
  • GPS connection via Bluetooth is available
  • A waterproof case and other details to increase durability of the lab working on-situ
The main idea of ElvaX Geo is that it can measure large area of inhomogeneous minerals averaging results collected in the area of 80 mm without need to calibrate spectrometer before every analysis. In comparison, regular spectrometers have SDD detectors area of up to 13 mm and require to make multiple analysis in different spots averaging results. ElvaX Geo spectrometer was successfully tested in Geology and is considered to be by far the best spectrometer for chemical analysis of minerals.

ElvaX Mobile

Spectrometer ElvaX has the next advantages:
  • Perfect for geology exploration and mining where you need stability of calibration and automatic pressure compensation for the pressure and temperature changes in the surroundings
  • User friendly interface and portable
  • A PDA (a palmtop computer) is integrated for enhanced operation
  • A CCD camera for better sample positioning (optional)
  • A sample spinner for more precise averaging (optional) in case if sample preparation is unavailable in-field conditions
ElvaX Mobile is portable XRF lab for in-field chemical analysis.

Operators of Elvatech Portable Analyzers have the next advantages

There are plenty of benefits of using portable Elvatech XRF guns, particularly:
  • Portable. Designed especially for immediate on-site analysis, it posesses all the features of a professional laboratory in-field conditions.It is easily transported to job sites.
  • High precision and accuracy on-situ. Sample preparation is required for more precise (repeatable) and accurate (calibrated) analysis if you need to get results close to lab’s true values in seconds (which is called qualitative analysis). But in most cases, an XRF spectrometer is used for a quick «sorting» analysis (which is called semi quantitative analysis).
  • Minimal maintenance. No need for calibration in most applications and almost no maintenance due to dust and waterproof capabilities. Thus, it is economically provable to own such a device. In comparison, vast majority of portable spectrometers on the market are highly sensitive devices which need additional protection and special conditions for measurements. But Elvatech handheld XRF guns do not require that.
  • User frienly. These instruments are very easy to operate due to our patented Software.
  • NDT analysis. You will be able to make non-destructive analysis which is critically important for some applications
You can get customized instrument with necessary modes, suite of elements and options in accordance with your needs.  

X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometers F.A.Q.

If there are still questions, maybe you`ll find answers to them here.

Is XRF technology really effective?

Yes, it is definitely effective. XRF spectrometers have X-ray tube in nose part, which emits x-rays at the sample. The elements present in the sample start to fluoresce in response, giving the detector characteristic energies (characteristic line). Then detector emits them and send to multichannel analyser which sorts ebergies in special beans and then computer processes them and shows up chemical composition on the screen.

How much does an Elvatech XRF analyzer cost?

The price depends on the model of the spectrometer, the type of detector (PIN detector for heavy elements, regular SDD detector for high and light elements or advanced SDD detector for the best limits of detection of heavy and light elements), its anode material (W, Ta, Ag, Rh, etc), modes of calibration, accessories, etc. To determine price you are recommended to fill in a questionnaire which in and our specialists will helps to find out the best option for you.

Do I need a portable or benchtop spectrometer?

Different applications require specific spectrometer because of a range of factors. If accurate chemical analysis is necessary with samples which are brought to the office, a desktop model is suitable option. Though, if one needs to make chemical analysis on-site and needs fast chemical analysis of samples without samples preparation, a portable XRF analyser is the best option. By definition, handheld XRF spectrometers ELVATECH are the best tech instruments you need.

Is XRF method harmful?

We all know that x-ray emitting spectrometers are ionizing instruments, and that is why are considered to be harmful to human beings. But XRF spectrometers ELVATECH are absolutely safe for humans due to protected shield designed to protect XRF operator from x-rays. Elvatech handheld XRF spectrometers pass through radiation test to check emitting of x-rays of the XRF operator in real time and over a long period of time. It is critically important to realize that all XRF operators should be certified with NRCan and comply with all regulations from NRCan and Health Canada before using these instruments.

How accurate are XRF testings?

Accuracy of XRF spectrometers depend on precision of instrument and biases (factors). So, everything that effects precision, will also effect accuracy by definition. And there are many biases (factors) that affect XRF precision and accuracy, but there are 4 main factors. Firstly, duration of the measurement time increases limits of detection, precision and accuracy. The more time per each beam of the measurement the more precise and accurate results, depending on every single task. Duration of the measurement time can be adjusted to suit operator’s needs. Mostly, precise analysis can be done no more than some minutes, but for alloy grade identification a couple seconds can be enough. Each element has different accuracy as well as LOD with XRF testing. It is known that XRF analysis demonstrate better accuracy for elements with greater atomic number. For example, concentration of lead as a heavy metal has limit of detection of 1 ppm, but aluminium is around 0.1-0.3 percent. It is known, that XRF testing has the best accuracy among other methods of express chemical analysis. Calibration procedure plays significant role in accuracy and depends on how many standard samples were involved in calibration. Quality of reference samples. If you calibrate the XRF on standards that are analyzed by only one laboratory that’s not trustworthy, you can calibrate your XRF against poor results and that would definitely affect accuracy.

What is the difference between precision and repeatability?

Precision is all about repeatability of measurements. It is the grouping without taking into account how accurate the test is or what the true value is. It is all about comparing the measurements to the measurements themselves. If you have a tight cluster to a reference value that means you are very precise. Accuracy is how close the measured value is to the true value.

What is XRD and how that differs from XRF?

X-Ray fluorescenct and x-ray diffraction spectrometers are two different methods of spectral analysis based on non-elastic and elastic scatter of x-rays. As soon as they are based on different physical phenomena, they also provide different information about the materials. XRF method can measure concentration of the elements from periodic table, regardless of its crystal structure, state of aggregation, etc. At the same time, XRD spectrometers analyse chemical structure of the sample, literally lattice constant, phases present in any single sample and phase concentrations. Thus, in many cases XRD is obviously more informative, but portable XRF analysers, require much less time to make a measurement. Both XRF and XRD have their pros and cons as soon as designed for different fields of application. Due to their portability, handheld analyzers can be used anywhere and anytime convenient for you. These spectrometers are very powerful and lightweight instruments. The ability to use them outside throughout very demanding conditions allow you to have the best quality XRF gun. In spite of their site, they provide close to the true value laboratory results in just a few seconds instead of days or even weeks, which is required for traditional lab methodologies.