X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is a rapid method used to determine the composition of biomassudash, but the accuracy of the method is sensitive to various factors including ash preparation methods. Inudthis study different types of biomass ash were examined by using wet chemical analysis (WCA) and comparedudwith the respective XRF results. The biomass ash was initially prepared in accordance with theudEuropean Standard method at 550 C. At this low combustion temperature the amount of residualudunburned carbon is significant. To eliminate this, the ashes were heated at higher temperatures: a batchudof twenty biomass ashes were heated at 850 C and a batch of five heated to 815 C. At these higher temperaturesudthere may be loss of inorganic components by vaporisation. Variation in these effects may leadudto unreliable results. The relationship between XRF and WCA results are given by regression equations.udThe ashes processed at 815 C show better agreement between the two analysis methods.
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