<br/>Wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) has been widely implemented in quality control for many industries including, steel and alloy production, cement, plastics, glass, food, and refining. WDXRF involves the excitation of atoms in a solid or liquid sample, which produces characteristic x-rays that are separated by wavelength dispersion and detected. Quantitative applications can be created through the analysis of known standards. Herein, sexual performance supplements (e.g. horny goat weed), edible garments, gummies and lubricants were evaluated using a Primus IV WDXRF (Rigaku Americas Corporation) with a 4.0 kW, tube-above optics with a SuperTrace 30 um thin Be end-window Rh tube. The instrument was equipped with scintillation counter (SC) and flow-proportional counter (F-PC) detectors. The power setting (kV-mA) was optimized to achieve maximum excitation for Class 1 and 2A elements of interest (i.e. Pb, As, Cd, Hg, Co, V, and Ni). Peak and background positions were chosen accordingly for counting time efficiency. Whole pellets were prepared using the Atlas Automatic Hydraulic Press (40 ton) with the associated 35mm die assembly (Premiere Lab Supply, Port St. Lucie, Florida). Supplement tablets were removed from the gel casing and pressed into a pellet (5.0 g at 20 tons).  Tablet contents and edible materials were also ashed at ~950oC to concentrate the elemental impurities.  Ashed materials were pressed into a boric acid shell/pellet for direct analysis. Overall, results demonstrate varied but generally safe levels of toxic metals for materials manufactured in the USA.

Wavelength dispersive x-ray flouresence (WDXRF) for elemental analysis of sexual performance supplements, edible garments, gummies and lubricants

255th National Meeting (2018)

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