I'm doing an analysis of peat morphology and composition by using FE-SEM and EDX. However it is difficult to find references about this. Hopefully somebody can help me with this matter. Thank you in advance.
good luck for ur work. if u r not finding any reference than why bother, make ur work other's reference. along with FESEM go for CHN analysis of peat.
I do not have experience in particular with peat, but I guess it will not be conductive. To study the morphology deposit a thin conductive layer (e.g. Au, Cr, Pt). If you want to avoid this, use low voltages and small beam currents. Concerning the analysis, I agree with Parveen in using CHN analysis. To investigate the minor resistant components with EDX, try to filter them or clean by chemical means and then go to the microscope.
Dear Nur,
I also have no experience with peat, so just some general things. To wash specimens or not to wash them depends on your objectives. Air dry small pieces of peat (may be even oven dry at 60C). Spread a little bit of small fragments on carbon tape (on specimen stub) and coat with carbon. Since you will be using EDS, do not coat with metals (Au etc.) – characteristic peaks of metals can coincide with peaks of elements of interest. Do not use bulk pieces of peat – coating may be not sufficient to prevent charging and additionally EDS analysis may be influenced by lower layers of specimen. If you have easy access to SEM, do not hesitate to start as soon as possible, you’ll get preliminary results and see if your method works.
Vladimir, you are fully right about using C coating for EDS analysis, i forgot to mention this important point.
Mmmm only coat if it doesn't have variable vacuum, eco SEM doesn't need coating. I thin section the soil sample to get a better idea of the morphology
Carol,
Variable vacuum lowers localization of SEM analysis. Additionally, there is no "eco SEM"; only environmental...
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