Identification and investigation of halite in suspended particulate matter by X-ray diffraction & scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrum in the environment of an industrial city Faisalabad (Pakistan)

Abstract

Air pollution has numerous distinct and hazardous influences upon living organisms. Faisalabad one of the most polluted and big industrial city with huge air quality problems. The lack of enough knowledge with poor characterization of suspended particulate matter (SPM) showed the inorganic clay minerals present in the atmosphere of Faisalabad city. The characterization of soil compounds and elements were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) technique. The XRD analysis was carried out using Hanawalt method of phase identification. The sources of quartz, calcite, gypsum, clinoclore, talc, halite, albite and illite are showing local and remote. Morphology were observed in three micrographs obtained by SEM found particle size 10µm and the composition (% age) of various elements measured by EDS. It has been observed the analysis of silicon (Si), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) are present in the atmosphere of Faisalabad. Sodium (Na), Potassium (K) and chloride (Cl) are present in little amount showed the presence of halite in the SPM samples.

Keywords

• Suspended particulate matter (SPM)
• qualitative phase analysis
• air pollution
• hanawalt method
• energy dispersive spectrum (EDS)