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The Yspekh blog
XRF analysis, asbestos, lead in paint, metals and regulations: our field insights and technical pointers for choosing and using your analytical instruments.
An alternative to fire assay: confirming fineness by X-ray fluorescence
X-ray fluorescence can confirm the fineness of many precious-metal alloys without taking a sample. How far can it replace fire assay, and where are its limits?
Arsenic in historic books: identifying the bindings at risk
Scheele's green, Paris green: how portable X-ray fluorescence makes it possible to sort the arsenical bindings of a historic collection, without sampling and without damage.
Swiss Waste Ordinance 2026: what changed on 1 January, and what still applies
The limit values stay the same. Metal recovery from fly ash is postponed to 2028. And the 55 % energy recovery threshold now applies. Here is what really matters in the recent revisions of the Waste Ordinance.
Lead in paint: why the choice of XRF matters
No sampling, a few seconds per reading, and the ability to multiply checks in the field: X-ray fluorescence has changed how lead in paint is investigated. But one point often gets lost in the sales pitch — not every handheld XRF is equally suited to this application.