Determination of trace elements in cloud water and aerosols using instrumental neutron activation analysis and hydride generation with atomic absorption spectrometry

Cloud water and aerosol samples were collected at Whiteface Mountain, NY using the ASRC omnidirectional cloud water collector and high volume samples respectively. Trace element concentrations in cloud water samples were determined by neutron activation analysis and hydride generation with atomic absorption spectrometry. Agreement between the two methods for Se concentration was excellent (0.98±0.05). Aerosol samples were also analyzed for trace elements by neutron activation. Elemental analysis of cloud water and aerosols provide information useful to the study of microphysical and chemical interactions in cloud systems.     

Seasonal variation of natural radionuclides and some elements in plant leaves

Leaf and aerosol samples were monthly collected in Mt. Sefuri (Fukuoka Prefecture). Radioactivities of ⁷Be, ²¹⁰Pb and ⁴⁰K were determined with gamma-ray spectrometry. The concentrations of some elements in the leaf samples were determined by neutron activation analysis. Similar seasonal variation of ⁷Be and ²¹⁰Pb was observed between leaf and aerosol samples, high in spring and winter and low in summer. Correlation factors for trace elements contained in the leaf show large variations. This indicates that the contribution of two sources (atmospheric deposition and uptake from soil) is very variable.     

Trace and major element compositions of Black Sea aerosol

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), flame atomic emission spectrometry (FAES), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS), ion chromatography (IC) and visible spectrometry (VIS) were used to determine the composition of atmospheric aerosols, collected at a rural site in the Western Black Sea Coast of Turkey. A total of 354 daily aerosol samples were analyzed for 46 trace and major elements and ions. Sample preparation, quality control procedures, instrumental operating conditions for INAA and source apportionment work is presented.     

Atmospheric trace metal characterization in industrial area of Lisbon, Portugal

Summary A set of 15 atmospheric aerosol samples was collected in an industrial area of Lisbon, Portugal and then analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Both fine and coarse aerosol samples were collected during November and December 2001 on polycarbonate filters with Gent samplers. The INAA methodology utilized both thermal and epithermal neutron irradiations. Compton suppressed and normal gamma-ray spectra were acquired simultaneously for each measurement and the elemental concentrations of 30 elements were determined. Enrichment factors, wind speed comparison and receptor modeling techniques were applied to obtain the different source contributions of the aerosols. Crustal, marine and anthropogenic sources were identified. The anthropogenic elements have origin mainly in the area close to the sampling site (<5 km), with the exception of Ca and V. A direct relationship was observed between the anthropogenic atmospheric aerosol concentrations and wind speed.     

Determination of the chemical composition of the South Pole aerosol by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Atmospheric particulate samples were collected at the geographic South pole, using cellulose and polycarbonate filters and cascade impactors. The samples were analysed for 40 elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis. From the filter samples atmospheric concentrations for 33 elements could be obtained. The highest atmospheric concentrations were found for S: 49 ng/standard cubic meter (SCM) of air, Na: 3.3 ng/SCM and Cl: 2.6 ng/SCM. In the cascade impactor samples, only a few elements were observed above blank. For these elements it could be concluded that they are associated for over 80–90% with submicron size paricles.     

Application of Ion Chromatography,Nuclear and Spectrochemical Techniques for Trace and Major Element Determination in Seaside Aerosols

Instrumental neutron activation analysis, flame atomic absorption spectrometry, flame atomic emission spectrometry, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, ion chromatography and visible spectrometry were applied to determine the compositions of atmospheric aerosols, which were collected at a rural site in the Western Black Sea Coast of Turkey. A total of 354 daily aerosol samples were analyzed for about 46 trace and major elements and ions. Sample preparation, quality control procedures, and instrumental operating conditions were reported. Most of the elements measured commonly by the above techniques have very large correlation coefficients and low intercept values indicating the agreement between the results.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of carbonatites from Panda Hill and Oldoinyo-Lengai, Tanzania

Twenty nine (major and trace) elements including nine rare earth elements (REE) in African carbonatite samples were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The geochemical behavior of trace elements in carbonatites, especially REE pattern (chondrite normalized), and the efficiency of neutron activation analysis compared to other methods are discussed in this study.     

Analysis of the Arctic aerosol for a ten year period using various neutron activation analysis methods

During the past decade we have determined the concentrations of a variety of trace elements in the Arctic aerosol by using themal and epithemal neutron activation analysis (NAA). More recently we have employed Compton suppression NAA to lower the detection limits for radionuclides that are characteristic of single or mainly single gamma-ray emission. Using these various methods, we have been able to use elements such as indium and silicon. Furthermore we have achieved extremely low detection limits for iodine, arsenic and antimony. The usefulness of these NAA methods are discussed in a large sampling program that incorporates more than one thousand samples.     

Trace element analysis of airborne particulate matters in relation to air pollution in Benin City, Nigeria

The methods of neutron activation analysis (NAA) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) have been employed to determine the concentration levels of 18 trace elements in filter-collected airborne aerosols over an urban area in Nigeria. The highest concentrations measured in the samples were for Cl, Na, Al, Pb, Ca and Zn. The aerosol particles were found to contain higher concentrations of soil-derived trace elements, such as Al, Ti, K and Na than those derived from combustion and industrial activities such as As, Cd, Mn, Zn, Pb, Ni and Sb. The average precision of measurements varied between +/- 5.2% and 13% for most elements. Possible sources of the elements are also discussed.     

A study of some trace elements in infant foods

Seven trace elements were determined in milk formulas, powder milk and infant food. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used for the analysis of Fe, Zn, Co, Cr and Rb, while As and Cu content was determined using radiochemical neutron activation analysis. Differences were found in the trace element content of foods of the same type. Milk formulas are comparable with human milk according to the results obtained for the elements analyzed. The samples of powder cow's milk presented similar concentrations of the elements studied. Liver with vegetables was found to have the highest Cu content. A meal prepared at home, made of beef and fresh vegetables showed a higher trace element content than its similar commercial one. An estimation of the daily intake of the elements analyzed was made and compared with minimum recommended daily ingestion.     

Characteristics of the aerosol particulates in the atmosphere in an urban environment at Faisalabad, Pakistan

Summary The deposition of trace and major elements from the atmosphere to the ground is an important factor for plants, animals and humans as well. Total suspended particulate matter was measured by a standard gravimetric technique. A scanning electron microscope was used for the evaluation of the size distribution and morphological structures of the aerosol particulates trapped on the surface of filter paper. The aerosol particulates were studied by a scanning electron microscope at various magnification. The trace elemental composition in the atmosphere of Faisalabad was studied by using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Concentrations of 23 trace elements and a major one were determined in samples of aerosol particulates collected during a longe sampling period in the atmosphere at Faisalabad, Pakistan. Their amount was two times higher than the limits adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the urban environment.     

Investigation of different types of filters for atmospheric trace elements analysis by three analytical techniques

Different atmospheric aerosol samples were collected on three types of filters. Disks of both loaded and clean areas of each kind of filter were investigated by XRF, PIXE and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) methods. The blank concentration values of the elements Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br and Pb in the three types of fiters are discussed. It is found that for trace elemental analysis, the Nuclepore membrane filters are the most suitable for sampling. These have much lower blank element concentration values than the glass fibres and ash free filters. It was found also that the PIXE method is a more reliable analytical technique for atmospheric aerosol particles than the other methods.     

Application of neutron activation analysis in the investigation of trace element metabolism

The applications of neutron activation analysis in the investigation of trace element metabolism in animals and man are described and discussed. They include the determination of element distributions in the body, the study of correlations between trace element concentrations and physiological processes, the special methods of investigation of trace element metabolism in man and the identification of the chemical forms of the elements in the organism. Examples for each stage of application are given.     

Sorption of uranyl ions on TiO2: Effects of contact time, ionic strength, concentration and humic substance

Ambient aerosol and gas phase mercury samples at five, and wet deposition samples at two rural sites were collected for two years (1991-1993) in New York State, USA. Element concentrations of more than 2000 samples were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) to explain probable source types and source regions of observed trace elements. Concentrations for many of the elements displayed distinct seasonal patterns. This, among other reasons may be due to changes in the prevailing winds over the region and seasonal changes in some of the source strengths.     

Geochemical investigation of the Witbank coalfield using instrumental neutron activation analysis

The No. 2 coal seam of the Witbank basin, South Africa, has a well defined geological layering that extends laterally over most of the basin. Palaeoenvironmental studies indicate that the No. 2 seam accumulated in two distinct depositional environments: glaciofluvial channels and regions represented by transgressive marine sediments. A systematically selected suite of samples was collected to study the distribution of trace elements both laterally and vertically across the No. 2 seam. A total of 121 coal samples were analysed for 15 trace elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Detailed trace element profiles across the No. 2 seam indicate that trace elements associated with the inorganic minerals in coal reflect vertical changes in the clastic source areas, environments of precipitation and accumulation or intrusive mineralisation in the post-peat swamp phases of the No. 2 seam. Trace elements associated with the organic matter in coal relate to changes in the palaeoenvironment or possible plant associations. Variation in the concentration of Br across the Witbank basin reflect regional changes in the depositional environment. In turn the chemical nature of the depositional environment strongly effects the distribution of some trace elements among maceral groups. on indefinite secondment to the NPRU     

Comparison of different types of filters for atmospheric trace element analysis by three analytical methods

Different atmospheric aerosol samples were collected on three types of filters. From both of the loaded and clean areas of each kind of filter, different disks were cut and investigated by XRF, PIXE and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The blank concentration values of the elements Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br and Pb in the three types of filter are discussed. It is found that for trace elemental analysis, the Nuclepore membrane filters are the most suitable for sampling. These filters have much lower blank element concentrations than the glass fiber and ash free filters. It was found also that PIXE is a more reliable analytical technique for atmospheric aerosol particles than the other methods used.     

New Developments in Activation Analysis for Material and Environmental Sciences

Activation analysis in general and mainly reactor neutron activation analysis (NAA) has been used extensively for measuring trace elements in high purity materials, particularly semiconductor materials. The advantages of NAA in determination of trace elements differ from one semiconductor material to another. For all of them the inherent properties of activation analysis especially those of non contamination with the reagents, low blanks and high sensitivity are the reasons for the choice of NAA as the main analytical procedure. These inherent properties are essential for analysis of high-purity materials where concentrations of ppb's and sub ppb's have to be measured. NAA is specially suitable for the determination of trace elements in silicon due to the very short lived very low activity induced by neutron reaction in silicon. This enables easy instrumental (i.e. without chemical separations) determination of trace elements in silicon. In the HFR reactor at Peten, Netherlands, a special facility was constructed for irradiation of silicon samples of Philips, in which silicon wafers of up to 15 cm diameter can be irradiated with 4 × 10¹³n. cm^?2. sec^?1 and the irradiation is done for 72–96 hours. using large Ge(Li) detectors (100 to 150cc) and long counting time (8–16 hours) they measured 22 elements in concentrations below ppb and 10 others between ppb and 300 ppm. Trace elements in germanium have been determined both instrumentally after very long decay time (100 days) or after short decay time removing the activities from the matrix by chemical separation. Trace elements in GaAs are determined only after chemical separtion. Several other semiconductor material such as Sc, Te, GaP and CuInS₂ were also determined by NAA. Some trace elements cannot be determined by neutron activation. Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen are determined by activation with protons, alphas or ³He particles. Boron and hydrogen are determined by prompt emission induced by charged particle activation, which gives not only the total concentration but also the depth profile. Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus were also determined by prompt proton activation analysis. The environmental samples studied by activation analysis can be divided into three categories: atmospheric aerosols, water samples and solid wastes. NAA of atmospheric aerosols have been used for their posible toxicological hazards, their source identification and for studies of atmospheric transport processes.     

Longitudinal distribution of trace elements in the atmosphere of an industrial area from neutron activation analysis

Industrial units play a significant role in atmospheric pollution. Industrial exhausts deteriorate the atmospheric quality causing unhygienic environment for the people working in the vicinity. This work presents a study of the longitudinal distribution of trace elements of the Sheikhupura industrial area. Three kinds of distribution patterns were observed and are discussed in detail. The results are based on the neutron activation analysis of 16 trace elements.     

Multielement neutron activation analysis of human scalp hair a local population survey in the Tokyo metropolitan area

Applying instrumental neutron activation analysis, multielement analysis of human hair was carried out to elucidate the levels of various trace element concentrations in hair of local population in the Tokyo metropolitan area. 202 hair samples were collected from the inhabitants classified by sex and five age groups. Using several combinations of irradiation time, cooling time and counting time, forty elements were quantitatively analyzed. The method of analysis for data including samples under detection limit is discussed, assuming that the frequanecy distribution of trace element contents in hair is log-normal.     

Determination of chromium,manganese, lead and cadmium in biological samples including hair using direct electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Direct analysis of solid samples employing a laboratory assembled electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer is demonstrated to be a feasible approach for determination of trace elements in plant tissue and hair samples for special applications in plant physiology and biomedical research. As an example, the kinetics of Cr uptake by cabbage and its distribution have been measured as a function of chromium speciation in the nutrient solution. Further, longitudinal concentration gradients of Cr, Pb and Cd have been measured in hair of various population groups exposed to different levels of these elements in ambient and/or occupational environments. The techniques are validated for the determination of these trace elements by neutron activation analysis, dissolution atomic absorption spectrometry and by analysis of certified reference materials. Slurry sample introduction is found appropriate for routine trace element determination and in homogeneity testing. Direct sample introduction is indispensable in the analysis of very small (< 1 mg) tissue biopsy samples in the determination of trace element distributions.