X-ray absorption spectroscopy of aqueous solutions in the X-ray energy region from 1800 to 3700 eV

A methodology for the X-ray XANES and EXAFS analyses of aqueous solutions was developed for the Double Crystal Monochromator (DCM) beamline of the Canadian Synchrotron Radiation Facility (CSRF). The technique is based on the implementation of a liquid cell, which is compatible with the standard solid-state sample holding mechanism used at the beamlines of CSRF and the Canadian Light Source (CLS). Aluminized Mylar film with a thickness of 5 μm has been thoroughly investigated for use as a window material for the cell, and found acceptable for the collection of the S, Cl, and K K-edge spectra of ions in aqueous solution, but not for P K-edge or Rb L 2,3 -edge spectra. Some of the limitations of this methodology, such as diffusion of the solution through the window and the detection limit at low ion concentration, are investigated and discussed.