While analyzing Calcite in EPMA using WDS, the total mass percentage that I am getting is 50 to 55% since the rest of the molecule is Carbonate which EPMA cannot detect. Is there a way in which I can make the total mass percentage close to hundred?
Theoretically, pure calcite should consist of 56.03 wt% CaO and 43.97 wt% CO2 to meet the stoichiometric requirement of Ca = 2.000 atoms in the formula calculated on 6 (O) basis. So, if the EPMA is functioning well, I would simply add up the requisite CO2 to the CaO to make up the total to 100%.
There is tricky method to analyse your sample while u are dealing with alkali, hydroxl, carbonates samples as in most of the cases due to high probe curent like 20 nA , the results are worst while gud at 2 nA assuming the standards u are using are gud and u are not making any mistake while calibrating STDs and Study of Peak Overlaps & then applied Interference correction.
With high Probe current, it has been seen that elements change their position within the material so it is beetr to use either a low probe current and voltage or to defocus the beam by increasing its beam Dia. I think it will work and make sure that if elements are present in trace amount, better be use Calibration Curve Technique.
U can also refer to link i am sharing
https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/faculty/science/earth-sciences/Data_Reduction_Guide.pdf
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