Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis of heavy metals in contaminated soils: a case study from Varta Insel, Hagen
- 1Institute of Geology and Paleontology, University of Münster, Correnstraße 24, 48149 Münster, Germany
- 2Arcadis Germany B.V. & Co. KG, Europaplatz 3, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
Abstract
Urban soils contaminated with persistent and toxic heavy metals are found worldwide. Their remediation is essential to prevent harm to humans and the environment. The integration of portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pXRF) as a field analytical instrument in remediation projects offers the possibility to rapidly assess soils at low costs. In this study, we test the potential of pXRF in contaminated soil assessment at a former battery factory “Varta Insel” in Hagen, Germany. Soil samples were analyzed (1) by pXRF on site, (2) by pXRF under laboratory conditions, and (3) by microwave assisted aqua regia digestion with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Direct on-site measurements were useful for supporting field decisions and selecting samples for further analysis, but results were strongly influenced by matrix effects, grain size, and moisture content, limiting their reliability. Dried and sieved samples were measured by pXRF under laboratory conditions through low-density polyethylene sample bags. The laboratory pXRF results agreed with the more expensive ICP-OES analysis in 94% of cases when classifying samples above or below German regulatory limits. However, pXRF systematically underestimated lead concentrations and overestimated arsenic and chromium. Hence, we conclude that pXRF is not a stand-alone solution for heavy metal analysis of contaminated soil samples. However, it can effectively guide the selection of samples requiring detailed ICP-OES analysis and contribute to higher-density data collection, ultimately enhancing spatial resolution.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03538-5.
Related
- Microbial inoculation enhances phytoremediation performance of Camelina sativa in soils contaminated with multiple heavy metals
- Nanobiochar loaded microbial consortia based bioremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils enhances sustainable rice biomass production and quality
- Bioremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: Mechanisms, Emerging Technologies, and Pathways to Field-Scale Application
- Source Identification and Apportionment of Heavy Metals in Tobacco Farmland Soils via Positive Matrix Factorization and Geochemical Indices
- Machine-learning prediction of freezing temperature in Pb-contaminated soils remediated with biochar
BibTeX
@article{kaulingfrecks2026portable,
title = {{Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis of heavy metals in contaminated soils: a case study from Varta Insel, Hagen}},
author = {Julius Kaulingfrecks and David De Vleeschouwer and Anja Michalski and Christine Achten},
journal = {Environmental Geochemistry and Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s10653-026-03538-5},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03538-5},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis of heavy metals in contaminated soils: a case study from Varta Insel, Hagen
AU - Julius Kaulingfrecks
AU - David De Vleeschouwer
AU - Anja Michalski
AU - Christine Achten
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Environmental Geochemistry and Health
DO - 10.1007/s10653-026-03538-5
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03538-5
AB - Urban soils contaminated with persistent and toxic heavy metals are found worldwide. Their remediation is essential to prevent harm to humans and the environment. The integration of portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pXRF) as a field analytical instrument in remediation projects offers the possibility to rapidly assess soils at low costs. In this study, we test the potential of pXRF in contaminated soil assessment at a former battery factory “Varta Insel” in Hagen, Germany. Soil samples were analyzed (1) by pXRF on site, (2) by pXRF under laboratory conditions, and (3) by microwave assisted aqua regia digestion with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Direct on-site measurements were useful for supporting field decisions and selecting samples for further analysis, but results were strongly influenced by matrix effects, grain size, and moisture content, limiting their reliability. Dried and sieved samples were measured by pXRF under laboratory conditions through low-density polyethylene sample bags. The laboratory pXRF results agreed with the more expensive ICP-OES analysis in 94% of cases when classifying samples above or below German regulatory limits. However, pXRF systematically underestimated lead concentrations and overestimated arsenic and chromium. Hence, we conclude that pXRF is not a stand-alone solution for heavy metal analysis of contaminated soil samples. However, it can effectively guide the selection of samples requiring detailed ICP-OES analysis and contribute to higher-density data collection, ultimately enhancing spatial resolution. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03538-5.
SN - 0269-4042
SN - 1573-2983
ER -