Launching a new age of XRF at Analytica

A new age of XRF has arrived. Malvern Panalytical has launched the world’s first compact X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer: Revontium™. Attendees discovered the compact brilliance of Revontium in an exciting launch experience at Analytica Munich – the world’s leading trade show for laboratory technology. Curious to know more? Read on to learn all about Revontium and how compact, powerful XRF can benefit your work!

In research and production environments, it is increasingly important to have a detailed understanding of the elemental composition of materials. Often, sample handling or slow analysis times can cause bottlenecks in the process.

As a result, the analytical instruments that can provide this level of accuracy at high throughput can be very large, which limits their versatility in several applications.

Why choose an XRF instrument?

XRF is a well-established, non-destructive technique for elemental analysis that has several advantages over techniques such as inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). XRF is highly sensitive. It measures the wavelength and intensity of X-rays, in this case, emitted by energized atoms in a sample. In effect, when a material is hit by an X-ray beam, it emits fluorescent X-ray ‘fingerprints’ that are characteristic of the elements present in the material – even of trace elements.

As a result, XRF is useful in applications where elemental purity is a must, such as cement manufacturing, mining and mineral production, and polymer plants. A particular advantage of its non-destructive analysis is that each sample analyzed can then be measured by ICP, AAS, XRD, or other methods as required.

Choose Revontium for compact brilliance

Despite its strengths, XRF can often involve a trade-off between the precision of large, floor-standing instruments and the efficiency of handheld ones. With Revontium, Malvern Panalytical has introduced a solution to these problems: it delivers elemental analysis like that of floor-standing instruments but in a compact 0.4m² footprint.

Revontium’s cost of ownership is 25% lower than WDXRF, AAS, and ICP instruments due to reduced consumables, easier maintenance, and sample preparation. Unlike ICP, Revontium requires fewer consumables, such as acids and high-purity gases, and does not require daily calibration. Instead, it analyzes samples under ambient conditions with no special infrastructure required.

Unlike high-powered WDXRF instruments, Revontium’s internal cooling eliminates chiller costs. Its power consumption is only 0.2 kWh, compared to 2 kWh for conventional WDXRF. This, combined with its small footprint and the lack of a helium or vacuum pump, makes it one of the most sustainable and practical, yet powerful, options for elemental analysis. 

Revontium launched at Analytica

In addition to a presentation on the benefits of Revontium by Product Manager Lieven Kempenaers to journalists and customers, the launch was accompanied by an exciting ‘box in box’ experience. This was an immersive introduction to Revontium, where attendees were first greeted by projections of the Northern Lights. Upon entering the showcase area, the cover of the instrument was lifted, giving each attendee an exclusive unveiling of Revontium!

To learn more about Revontium, head to the product page. And if there’s something you’d like to explore further, we’d be happy to answer all your questions – contact us today!

Further reads

• Small steps: making pharmaceutical process development and manufacturing more sustainable
• Eliminating catalytic residues as you scale up APIs
• Ensuring the purity of pharmaceuticals and how XRF can fast-track elemental analysis
• The Basics of Elemental Analysis with XRF – Q&A
• The Basics of Elemental Analysis with XRF – Free webinar series