ASIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY ASIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2017.20475 INTRODUCTION Since the beginning of history, our ancestors have made use of different types of materials, including stone, ivory, metals, textiles, etc to draw signs and share information. Although many materials have been employed during the history of human kind, the most commonly used graphic supplies have been papyrus, parchment and paper [1]. When one speaks about paper, the first thing that comes to mind is that it is for carrying information, not for wrapping and packaging [2]. Nowadays, paper is the most common information carrier as it used to be. Pulp is diluted to at least 99 % with water and a mineral filler and water soluble substances such as optical brighteners and polyvinyl alcohol are added in the production of paper. Silicates, sulphates, carbonates, oxides and sulphides are used as mineral fillers depending on the paper application [3,4]. Rozic et al. [2] have made elemental analyses for ashes of office paper by using EDXRF spectrometry. Artificial aging processes in modern paper have been researched with X-ray spectrometry technique by Manso et al. [5]. Lartigue et al. [6] have analyzed some of cigarette paper with the help of EDXRF. The elemental characterization from papyrus to paper has been investigated with X-ray fluorescence spectrometry by Manso et al. [7]. Manso et al. [8] have compared the elemental content between modern and ancient paper by EDXRF. The charac- terization of paper which belongs to 18 th and 19 th century Comparison of Elemental Analysis for Different Kind of Papers by Using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer M. YAYLI 1 , O.K. KOKSAL 1,* , G. APAYDIN 1 , M. SIRIN 2 , E. CENGIZ 1 and H. BALTAS 2 1 Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080 Trabzon, Turkey 2 Department of Physics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, 53100 Rize, Turkey *Corresponding author: Fax: +90 462 3253197; Tel: +90 462 377 3573; E-mail: okoksal@ktu.edu.tr Received: 26 December 2016; Accepted: 17 February 2017; Published online: 10 April 2017; AJC-18343 In this study, comparative analyses of different 27 brand papers widely used in Turkey as ashes of paper in the form of pellets. The white paper and photocopied paper have been analyzed by using the energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer system. The analyses indicated the elemental concentration values for specimens in parts per million. Besides, Pearson correlation relations were calculated with statistical package for the social sciences. When the obtained values in this study are examined carefully, it is evident that the changing content of paper is considerable. The aim of this study is to compare the original paper with photocopied paper and ashes of paper in terms of elemental concentration. It is believed that the obtained results in this study will contribute to the data base on the paper elemental characterization. Keywords: EDXRF, Paper analysis, Elemental analysis. Asian Journal of Chemistry; Vol. 29, No. 6 (2017), 1301-1307 documents has been examined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry by Manso et al. [9] and Van Es et al. [10] have surveyed the discrimination of document paper by XRF, LA- ICP-MS and IRMS using multivariate statistical technique. The raw material of paper is cellulose since it is made from trees. However, various elements are added by the manufac- turer. The most important stuff in all of the additives is the polyelectrolytes which make better the fineness and filler retention, provide the drainage of the paper suspension more efficient and at the same time add specific qualifications [11]. For the improvement of surface properties of paper, picture colour and quality, polymers soluble in water predominantly starch or soluble cellulose products are added in paper mass in a separate process, or paper mass is coated with these substances. The pigment in coating layer could be clay platelets, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, calcium sulphate, talc, or synthetic pigments [4]. Thus, the paper has become a doped. The main problem starts at this stage. There is no standard for paper additives used in the production process. In addition to this, paper manufacturers keep the pro- portions of additives used as a secret. This situation makes the paper manufacturing process an enigma for the users. The lack of standardization in papermaking has led us to perform this study. This present study will contribute to the database on paper’s elemental characterization and provide efficient paper identification.