150
5.6, 5.7, 5.8, and 5.9 are the screening of the Homalothecium lutescens moss sample. Figure 5.6a, b represents the SEM analysis of Homalothecium lutescens sample
from the polluted site where two analyses are compared: one is point analysis as
spectrum 9 (yellow) and one is surface analysis as spectrum 10 (red). Figures 5.7,
5.8, and 5.9 represent the qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis of the surface of the Homalothecium lutescens moss samples (100, 250, and 500 μm).
Figures 5.10, 5.11, and 5.12. Comparative analysis of two surface screening, spectrum 15 (yellow) and spectrum 16 (red), is presented in Fig. 5.11a, b, for Hypnum
cupressiforme sample from a polluted site. The three samples were scanned and
surface absorption was monitored. Advanced scans help to better identify the particles and how they are retained in the moss tissue. For each SEM analysis, a chemical characterization was performed for the given scan. But what is very important
for this research is the analysis of the moss surface compared to the substance/substance absorbed on the moss surface. Such comparisons are made for the control
sample (Fig. 5.4a, b). Spectrum 4 detects the tissue surface of the moss sample,
while spectrum 3 is the absorbed dust. The chemical characterization is dominant
for the biogenic elements, while the deposited matter is dominated by iron, aluminum, and silicon. The other two specimens are from a potentially contaminated
area, but are different species. Therefore, the analysis was aimed at comparing the
two types as well as the possibility of expression of anthropogenic elements in the
deposited dust. The dual surface analysis of Homalothecium moss is presented in
Fig. 5.6a, b. The scan shows two spectra, one from the surface of the tissue (spectrum 10) and a part where the presence of a deposit has been determined (spectrum
9). Biogenic elements dominate the chemical characterization (C, O, and Si), while
dust shows a charge for several anthropogenic elements. Analysis of Hypnum
cupressiforme showed more significant expression in the identification of the elements contained in the deposited dust. Two identifications were made, presented in
Fig. 5.11a, b, where only a difference in biogenic elements is observed between the
moss tissue (spectrum 16) and the deposited matter that is not enriched with anthropogenic elements (spectrum 15). The analysis of both spectra 13 and 14 (Fig. 5.12a,
b) identified a deposited particle with a significant difference in the content of Cu,
Fe, and Zn, which is characteristic of the mine environment for the exploitation of
copper minerals.
5.7.2 X-Ray Mapping of Moss Samples and Dust Particles
X-ray mapping is used to obtain the distributions of specific elements. In this
analysis, the electron probe is scanned over a specified area, and characteristic
X-rays with specific energies are acquired. It should be noted that if the P-B ratio is
extremely low (the peak intensity is very small compared to the background), X-ray
maps show the distribution of continuous X-rays (not the distributions of elements
of interest). Energies of characteristic X-ray elements not of interest are very close
to those of the elements of interest; X-ray maps might show the distributions of the
B. Balabanova et al.
5.6, 5.7, 5.8, and 5.9 are the screening of the Homalothecium lutescens moss sample. Figure 5.6a, b represents the SEM analysis of Homalothecium lutescens sample
from the polluted site where two analyses are compared: one is point analysis as
spectrum 9 (yellow) and one is surface analysis as spectrum 10 (red). Figures 5.7,
5.8, and 5.9 represent the qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis of the surface of the Homalothecium lutescens moss samples (100, 250, and 500 μm).
Figures 5.10, 5.11, and 5.12. Comparative analysis of two surface screening, spectrum 15 (yellow) and spectrum 16 (red), is presented in Fig. 5.11a, b, for Hypnum
cupressiforme sample from a polluted site. The three samples were scanned and
surface absorption was monitored. Advanced scans help to better identify the particles and how they are retained in the moss tissue. For each SEM analysis, a chemical characterization was performed for the given scan. But what is very important
for this research is the analysis of the moss surface compared to the substance/substance absorbed on the moss surface. Such comparisons are made for the control
sample (Fig. 5.4a, b). Spectrum 4 detects the tissue surface of the moss sample,
while spectrum 3 is the absorbed dust. The chemical characterization is dominant
for the biogenic elements, while the deposited matter is dominated by iron, aluminum, and silicon. The other two specimens are from a potentially contaminated
area, but are different species. Therefore, the analysis was aimed at comparing the
two types as well as the possibility of expression of anthropogenic elements in the
deposited dust. The dual surface analysis of Homalothecium moss is presented in
Fig. 5.6a, b. The scan shows two spectra, one from the surface of the tissue (spectrum 10) and a part where the presence of a deposit has been determined (spectrum
9). Biogenic elements dominate the chemical characterization (C, O, and Si), while
dust shows a charge for several anthropogenic elements. Analysis of Hypnum
cupressiforme showed more significant expression in the identification of the elements contained in the deposited dust. Two identifications were made, presented in
Fig. 5.11a, b, where only a difference in biogenic elements is observed between the
moss tissue (spectrum 16) and the deposited matter that is not enriched with anthropogenic elements (spectrum 15). The analysis of both spectra 13 and 14 (Fig. 5.12a,
b) identified a deposited particle with a significant difference in the content of Cu,
Fe, and Zn, which is characteristic of the mine environment for the exploitation of
copper minerals.
5.7.2 X-Ray Mapping of Moss Samples and Dust Particles
X-ray mapping is used to obtain the distributions of specific elements. In this
analysis, the electron probe is scanned over a specified area, and characteristic
X-rays with specific energies are acquired. It should be noted that if the P-B ratio is
extremely low (the peak intensity is very small compared to the background), X-ray
maps show the distribution of continuous X-rays (not the distributions of elements
of interest). Energies of characteristic X-ray elements not of interest are very close
to those of the elements of interest; X-ray maps might show the distributions of the
B. Balabanova et al.