Multi-elemental analysis of produced water by synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence

Abstract

he synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence (SRTXRF) technique was used for the analysis of heavy metals in produced watersamples from oil field in Rio Grande do Norte, in order to determine potential sources of pollution. Since the inorganic components in producedwater generally resembling sea water, pre-concentration procedures have been applied to increase the concentration of the analyte of interest andto minimize the salt matrix effects. This technique allows us to determine the contents of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Hg and Pb in 20 producedwater samples. The great majority of the sampling points presented low elemental concentration value. However, in some sample, the Fe, Ni, Cu,Zn and Hg concentration were higher than the established limits by the Brazilian legislation