Methodology of X-ray fluorescence analysis of suspended matter in estuarine waters

Twenty-seven samples of suspended sediments collected on Millipore filters from the St. Lawrence estuary were directly analysed for Si, Al, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Ti, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Cr and Zn by X-ray fluorescence using standards prepared from suspended matter collected by continuous flow centrifugation. Calibration curves prepared from the analysis of these standards could be directly used in calculating the weight percent of elements for the unknown samples, if the weight of the total suspended matter on the filters did not exceed 25 mg.