Hands-on Technical Training Workshop on Portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry for Calibration, Validation and Testing

The Department of Chemistry through Lead Exposure Intervention Project(LEIP) organized for a Hands-on Technical training workshop on Portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF) Spectrometry on 17th – 23rd June 2026 in the newly renovated, Estec-supported Science Exposure and Chemometrics Laboratory in the Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi (UoN), Chiromo Campus.

The workshop facilitated by Dr. Anne Riederer, Co-Investigator (Co-I) for the Lead Exposure Intervention Project (LEIP) from the University of Washington (UW), who also serves as the co-supervisor for the participating postgraduate research student. The week-long training went far beyond basic operations, focusing heavily on safety protocols, advanced calibration modeling, validation metrics, and precision sample-preparation methods required for research-grade trace element analysis.

Training pillars

• The technical training was facilitated by Dr. Anne Riederer that provided hands-on expertise to the departmental technical team members and postgraduate student under the supervision of Dr. Faridah Were, culminating in awarding of certificates by Prof. Damaris Mbui, acting Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Prof. Anne Riederer of UW for the technical competency.
• Participants built high-precision, matrix-matched calibration curves for detecting lead in different media. Using certified reference standards, the team generated linear regression models achieving an exceptional validation score of R2 of about 0.99.
•  A core pillar of the operation involved mastering radiation safeguards and instrument handling. Trainees reviewed specialized Bruker instructional and safety video series, integrating these protocols directly into the assembly and stationary benchtop operation of the pXRF system.
• Trainees successfully ran baseline recovery checks using international standards across diverse matrices, including environmental soils (such as Nairobi River basin samples), household dust, paints, and artisanal aluminium cookware.

With the successful conclusion of this technical training, the Science Exposure and Chemometrics Laboratory transitions into impactful research.