Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE): A Tool of Qualitative Elemental Analysis for Biological Sample

The facility of ion beam laboratory at Kochi University of Technology (KUT) has been extended by installing the Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique, in order to provide qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis and in-air micro-PIXE analysis. This paper is a description of PIXE setup and its application in biological sample for qualitative elemental analysis. The energy calibration of the system shows linearity. The minimum detection limit indicates that the system has good detection limit. The homogeneity shows uniformity of the sample itself and the internal standard within the sample. A 4 MeV He ion beam was used to analyze shellfish samples. Analyzing samples, it was found that the lower Z elements as well as some trace elements were detected.