The present x-ray fluorescence spectrometer in the Department of Chemistry in WHOI, is 13 years old and has reached its limit of efficient operation. Downtime due to malfunctions has increased to exceedingly high levels. This system is now obsolete and upgrading or repairing would be too costly. In this award, a Philips PW1404 spectrometer will be purchased which would give increased precision and accuracy, better efficiency and cost-effectiveness, increase the number of elements that can be analyzed and would provide a facility with wide application and usage by other workers. Several other NSF supported projects will be immediately benefited of this procurement.
