Fepitoisuus

Fepitoisuus, sometimes written as Fe-pitoisuus, is a term used in Finnish-language scientific writing to denote the concentration of iron in a sample. The Fe prefix refers to the chemical symbol for iron, while pitoisuus means concentration; together they indicate iron content. It is typically expressed as a mass fraction (percent by weight, w/w) or in units such as milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), parts per million (ppm), or percent iron by dry weight.

Determination of fepitoisuus requires sample preparation to homogenize or digest the material, followed by instrumental analysis. Common techniques include inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The method choice depends on the matrix, required sensitivity, and available equipment.

In practice, fepitoisuus is used across several fields. In geology and mining, it helps assess ore grade and informs resource estimates. In environmental science, it measures iron loading in soils, sediments, or water bodies. In nutrition and food science, it describes iron content in foods or biological samples, relevant for dietary assessment and labeling.

Considerations include the difference between total iron concentration and iron speciation, since some measurements do not distinguish oxidation states or bioavailability. Data quality is supported by reporting uncertainty, detection limits, and using certified reference materials, blanks, and quality-control procedures. The term may appear alongside related concepts such as iron concentration, ore grade, and the analytic methods ICP-OES, ICP-MS, AAS, and XRF.