Laboratory for Elemental Microanalysis

• Prof. Gordana Žauhar, PhD
• Assoc. Prof. Diana Mance, PhD
• Assist. Prof. Marija Čargonja, PhD
• Boris Mifka, PhD

Research within the laboratory focuses on the application of nuclear analytical techniques for elemental analysis of samples. These techniques are based on spectroscopy of characteristic X-rays excited in the sample, with excitation achieved either by an X-ray source (such as an X-ray tube or synchrotron radiation) or by MeV-energy ions. They enable highly efficient and rapid quantitative elemental analysis of both small and large samples, ranging from aerosol particles to archaeological artefacts.

List of Techniques:

• XRF – X-ray Fluorescence and micro-XRF
• PIXE – Particle Induced X-ray Emission and micro-PIXE
• RBS – Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry
• PESA – Proton Elastic Scattering Analysis
• PIGE – Particle Induced Gamma-ray Emission

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is performed in the laboratory, while other techniques requiring accelerator systems are carried out at the Ion Beam Interaction Laboratory of the Ruđer Bošković Institute, with whom we maintain a long-standing and successful collaboration.

Properties of Nuclear Analytical Techniques:

• Multi-element capability: from hydrogen (PESA), carbon, oxygen, nitrogen (RBS), sodium, magnesium, aluminium, silicon (PIGE), to all other elements using XRF and PIXE
• High sensitivity: typically down to ppm levels, and lower when required
• Wide dynamic range: from percentage levels down to ppm within the same analysis
• Very small sample quantity required
• Simple sample preparation
• Non-destructive
• Spatial resolution: enables analysis of small segments of the same sample in cases of material inhomogeneity, allowing both surface and depth-resolved elemental mapping

Applications of Nuclear Analytical Techniques:

In addition to fundamental scientific research, nuclear analytical techniques are applied in environmental and health protection, industrial processes, non-destructive testing, forensics, archaeological studies, and more. The current research focus of the laboratory is the analysis of airborne particulate matter (aerosols), for which continuous long-term sampling is being conducted.

Scientific papers:

1. Buljat, Antonella; Čargonja, Marija; Mekterović, Darko.
   Source Apportionment of Particulate Matter in a Metal Workshop. // International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 21 (2024) , 
2. Mifka, Boris; Telišman Prtenjak, Maja; Kavre Piltaver, Ivna; Mekterović, Darko; Kuzmić, Josipa; Marciuš, Marijan; Ciglenečki, Irena.
   Intense Desert Dust Event in the Northern Adriatic (March 2020); Insights From the Numerical Model Application and Chemical Characterization Results. // Earth and Space Science. 10 (2023) , e2023EA002879
3. Čargonja, Marija; Mekterović, Darko; Žurga, Paula; Ravlić-Gulan, Jagoda; Bogdanović Radović, Iva; Žauhar, Gordana.
   Deposition of heavy metals in biological tissues of workers in metal workshops. // Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 30 (2023) , 36794-36806
4. Mifka, Boris; Telišman Prtenjak, Maja; Kuzmić, Josipa; Čanković, Milan; Mateša, Sarah; Ciglenečki, Irena
   Climatology of dust deposition in the Adriatic Sea; a possible impact on marine production. // Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres. 127 (2022) , 26; e2021JD035783
5. Alebić-Juretić, Ana; Mifka, Boris
   Sources of airborne particulates (PM10) in the port city of Rijeka, Croatia. // Environmental science and pollution research. 29 (2022) , 6578-6590
6. Mifka, Boris; Žurga, Paula; Kontošić, Dario; Odorčić, Dajana; Mezlar, Marjana; Merico, Eva; Grasso, M. Fabbio; Conte, Marianna; Contini, Daniele; Alebić-Juretić, Ana
   Characterization of airborne particulate fractions from the port city of Rijeka, Croatia. // Marine pollution bulletin. 166 (2021) , 112236
7. Čargonja, Marija; Mekterović, Darko; Žurga, Paula; Ravlić-Gulan, Jagoda; Bogdanović Radović, Iva; Žauhar, Gordana.
   Elemental analysis of particulate matter in a metal workshop and of biological samples from exposed workers. // X-Ray Spectrometry. 50 (2021) , 68-79
8. Cesari, Daniela; Merico, Eva; Dinoi, Adelaide; Gambaro, Andrea; Morabito, Elisa; Gregorois, Elena; Barbaro, Elena; Feltracco, Matteo; Alebić-Juretić, Ana; Odorčić, Dajana et al.
   An inter-comparison of size segregated carbonaceous aerosol collected by low-volume impactor in the port-cities of Venice (Italy) and Rijeka (Croatia). // Atmospheric Pollution Research. 11 (2020) , 10; 1705-1714
9. Merico, Eva; Conte, Marianna; Grasso, Fabio M.; Cesari, Daniela; Gambaro, Andrea; Morabito, Elisa; Gregoris, Elena, Orlando, Salvatore; Alebić-Juretić, Ana; Zubak, Velimir.; Mifka, Boris; Contini, Daniele
   Comparison of the impact of ships to size- segregated particle concentrations in two harbour cities of northern Adriatic Sea. // Environmental pollution. 266 (2020) , 115175, 10
10. Palčić, Ana; Szyja, Bartłomiej M.; Mičetić, Maja; Čendak, Tomaž; Akouche, Mariame; Juraić, Krunoslav; Čargonja, Marija; Mekterović, Darko; Vušak, Vitomir; Valtchev, Valentin.
    Impact of the Zn source on the RSN-type zeolite formation. // Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers. 6 (2019) , 9; 2279-2290
11. Čargonja, Marija; Mekterović, Darko; Mance, Diana; Žauhar, Gordana; Bogdanović Radović, Iva; Zamboni, Ivana. Characteristics of aerosol pollution in the vicinity of an oil refinery near Rijeka, Croatia. // X-ray spectrometry. 48 (2019) , 5; 561–568
12. Čargonja, Marija; Žauhar, Gordana; Orlić, Ivica.
    Analysis of aerosols in indoor working environment by X-ray fluorescence technique (XRF). // Radiation and Applications in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Medical Sciences, Engineering and Environmental Sciences. 2 (2017) , 3; 220–225 
13. Ivošević, Tatjana; Orlić, Ivica; Bogdanović Radović, Ivančica; Čargonja, Marija; Stelcer, Eduard.
    Composition and source apportionment of fine particulate matter during extended calm periods in the city of Rijeka, Croatia. // Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 406 (2017) , Part A; 82–86
14. Merico, Eva; Gambaro, Andrea; Argiriou, Athanassios A.; Alebić-Juretić, Ana; Barbaro, Elena; Cesari, Daniela; Chasapidis, Leonidas; Dimopoulos, S.; Dinoi, Adelaide; Donateo, Antonio; Giannaros, Christos; Gregoris, Elena; Karagiannidis, Athanasios F.; Konstandopoulos, A.G.; Ivošević, Tatjana; Liora, Natalia; Melas, Dimitrios; Mifka, Boris; Orlić, Ivica; Poupkou, Anastasia; Šarovic, Kristina; Tsakis, Apostolos; Giua, Roberto; Pastore, Tiziano; Nocioni, Alessandra; Contini, Daniele.
    Atmospheric impact of ship traffic in four Adriatic-Ionian port-cities: comparison and harmonization of different approaches. // Transportation research part d-transport and environment. 50 (2017) ; 431–445
15. Ivošević, Tatjana; Stelcer, Eduard; Orlić, Ivica; Bogdanović Radović, Ivančica; Cohen, David.
    Characterization and source apportionment of fine particulate sources at Rijeka, Croatia from 2013 to 2015. // Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 371 (2016) ; 376–380
16. Ivošević, Tatjana; Orlić, Ivica; Bogdanović Radović, Ivančica.
    Long term fine aerosol analysis by XRF and PIXE techniques in the city of Rijeka, Croatia. // Nuclear Instruments and Method in Physics Research. Section B. 363 (2015) ; 119–123
17. Orlić, Ivica; Mekterović, Darko; Mekterović, Igor; Ivošević, Tatjana.
    VIBA-Lab 3.0: Computer program for simulation and semi-quantitative analysis of PIXE and RBS spectra and 2D elemental maps. // Nuclear Instruments and Method in Physics Research Section B. 363 (2015) ; 37–41
18. Ivošević, Tatjana; Mandić, Luka; Orlić, Ivica; Stelcer, Eduard; Cohen, David.
    Comparison between XRF and IBA techniques in analysis of fine aerosols collected in Rijeka, Croatia. // Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. B. 337 (2014) ; 83–89

Scientific conferences:

1. Zaštita zraka 2023, 20.-23. 9. 2023., Mlini, Hrvatska
2. Meteorološki izazovi 8, 28.-29. 4. 2022., Zagreb, Hrvatska
3. 7^th International Conference on Radiation in Various Fields of Research, 10.-14. 6. 2019., Herceg Novi, Crna Gora
4. 13^th European Conference on Accelerators in Applied Research and Technology, 5.-10. 5. 2019., Split, Hrvatska
5. European Conference on X-Ray Spectrometry, 24.-29. 6. 2018., Ljubljana, Slovenija
6. Fifth International Conference on Radiation and Applications in Various Fields of Research, 12.-16. 6. 2017., Budva, Crna Gora
7. 15^th International Conference on Particle Induced X-ray Emission, 2.-7. 4. 2017. Split, Hrvatska,  (suorganizatori konferencije)
8. European Conference on X-Ray Spectrometry, 19.-24. 6. 2016., Göteborg, Švedska
9. 22^nd International Conference on Ion Beam Analysis, 14.-19. 6. 2015., Opatija, Hrvatska
10. 14^th International Conference on Particle Induced X-ray Emission, 25.2-.3 .3.  2015. Cape Town, Južnoafrička Republika

Theses:

1. Marko Barac: Utjecaj sekundarnih efekata u XRF analizi spektroskopijom x-zraka; mentor: prof. dr. sc. Ivica Orlić
2. Mia Žudić: XRF analiza finih frakcija aerosola; mentor: doc. dr. sc. Darko Mekterović
3. Maja Kerošević: Lebdeće čestice u radionicama za obradu metala; mentor: doc. dr. sc. Darko Mekterović
4. Antonella Buljat: Elementna analiza lebdećih čestica u radionici za obradu metala; mentorica: dr. sc. Marija Čargonja
5. Mattea Mačkić Jovanović: Elementna analiza lebdećih čestica u blizini rafinerije nafte; mentorica: dr. sc. Marija Čargonja
6. Patrick Seleš: Oblik spektralnih linija u XRF i PIXE eksperimentalnim tehnikama; mentor: doc. dr. sc. Darko Mekterović
7. Marino Pupavac: Metoda PESA; mentor: doc. dr. sc. Darko Mekterović