XRF User guide and requirements

1. Registration with Diamond
 

*Not required if client not participating in the experiment.

Email the Diamond User Office to request access to our User Administration System (UAS). Please provide the following details:
 

• Title
• Family Name
• Given Name
• Gender
• DOB (dd/mm/yyyy)
• Organisation
• Department
• Email
• Nationality

We will send you login details on receipt of this information.

After registration, you will be issued with a Fed ID and password.This will give you access to Diamond’s integrated admin and data software (essential to your experiment).
 

2. Safety assessment

*Not required if client not participating in the experiment.

Take our safety test.  
 

You can access the safety video through our UAS on receipt of your login details.

3. Registration of investigator(s)

*Not required if client not participating in the experiment.

Register your investigators 

A link will be sent to you via UAS once a visit has been created.
 

Complete & submit the Experimental Risk Assessment (ERA) form for your samples
 

Instructions on how to manage our UAS and submit your samples are available.

Example form showing how to assess samples is available.

This stage must be completed at least one week prior to the experiment and well in advance of any samples arriving at Diamond.
 

The ERA for each sample will be validated by the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) group.

Prepare samples 
Preparation can be carried out at Diamond’s dedicated laboratories or in the user’s own laboratory.

Samples in various forms can be studied using XAS. For the best XAS data quality it is recommended that an adequate concentration of the studied element is used. The right concentration of the element can be calculated in Hephaestus (Demeter software). 
 

For powder samples, if the original sample has a high level of the element of interest, it can be diluted with a matrix of cellulose or boron nitride. The samples can be pressed in pellets using press pellets.
 

For liquid samples, if the original sample contains a high concentration of the element of interest, it can be diluted with a suitable solvent for the studied system. 

Sample shipment
Sample preparation can be carried out at Diamond’s dedicated laboratories or in the user’s laboratory.



Submit a despatch form to inform 

It is the customer's responsibility to arrange a courier, at their own cost, for any samples and equipment to be removed from Diamond. If the samples are not returned within 30 days, they will be disposed of or returned to the customer without further notice.