Patent ID: 6735276
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A sample preprocessing system for a fluorescent X-ray analysis which comprises:a vapor phase decomposing apparatus operable to retain on a surface of a substrate a substance to be measured that is found on the surface of the substrate or a substance to be measured that is found on a surface of a film formed on the surface of the substrate or within the film, after such substance has been dissolved by a reactive gas and has subsequently been dried, in a decomposing chamber; a sample recovery apparatus operable to drop a solution on the substrate having the surface on which the substance to be measures exists, to move the solution on the substrate surface while being retained by a holder, and to retain the substance to be measured on the substrate surface after having been recovered in the solution and then dried, in a recovery chamber; a transport apparatus operable to transport the substrate from the decomposing chamber towards the recovery chamber; and a control apparatus for controlling the vapor phase decomposing apparatus, the sample recovery apparatus, and the transport apparatus; wherein a set of the vapor phase decomposing apparatus and the sample recovery apparatus has an automatically opening and closing shutter, a differential pressure detecting means for detecting a pressure difference between inside and outside of the set and a concentration detecting means for detecting a concentration of the reactive gas within the set; and wherein the control apparatus after having confirmed that the pressure difference detected by the differential pressure detecting means and the concentration detected by the concentration detecting means are within respective predetermined ranges causes the automatically opening and closing shutter to open.