COMBINED CONFOCAL X-RAY FLUORESCENCE AND X-RAY COMPUTERISED TOMOGRAPHIC SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A correlative evaluation of a sample (104) using a combined x-ray computed tomography (CT) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) system and the method for analyzing a sample (104) using x-ray CT and XRF is disclosed. The CT/XRF system (10) includes an x-ray CT subsystem (100) for acquisition of volume information and a confocal XRF subsystem (102) for characterization of elemental composition information. Geometrical calibration is carried out between the XRF subsystem (102) and the X-ray CT subsystem (100) such that a region of interest defined during X-ray CT acquisition can be retrieved by the XRF subsystem (102) for a subsequent XRF acquisition. The system (10) combines the sub-micrometer spatial resolution 3-D imaging capability of x-ray CT with the elemental composition analysis of confocal XRF to provide 3-D elemental composition analysis of a sample (104) with ppm level sensitivity. This is applicable to many scientific research and industrial applications, a prime example of which is the elemental identification of precious metal grains in crushed and ground ores and floatation tailings in the mining industry.

主权项

1. An x-ray computed tomography (CT)/x-ray fluorescence (XRF) system comprising:
an x-ray CT subsystem for acquisition of volume information; a XRF subsystem for acquisition of elemental composition information; and a controller in communication with the x-ray CT subsystem and the XRF subsystem, wherein the controller manages the acquisition by the x-ray CT subsystem and the XRF subsystem.