Activation analysis: Present status in relation to other analytical techniques

Recent developments and trends in activation analysis are reviewed. Instrumental and radiochemical neutron activation analysis, as well as charged particle activation analysis are considered. The present status of activation analysis is summarised and compared to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Some examples of recent applications are given.     

Performance of NAA Methods in an International Interlaboratory Reference Material Characterization Campaign

An extensive database of analytical results from a recent biological matrix Reference Material Characterization Campaign permitted an intercomparison of the performances of various methods among each other and with "true" best estimate concentration values established for these materials. Six different variants of neutron activation analysis (NAA) methods were employed including: instrumental neutron activation analysis, instrumental neutron activation analysis with acid digestion, neutron activation analysis with radiochemical separation, neutron capture prompt gamma activation analysis, epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis, and neutron activation analysis with preconcentration. The precision and accuracy performance of NAA-based analytical methods are compared with three other major techniques, atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), atomic emission spectrometry (AES) and mass spectrometry (MS) for 28 elements in 10 natural matrix materials.     

Determination of vanadium in high grade carbons by radioanalytical methods

The present work deals with the determination of vanadium in high grade carbons by three radioanalytical methods, viz. thermal neutron activation analysis with an accelerator, thermal neutron activation analysis with a reactor and proton induced X-ray emission analysis with an accelerator. It is cleared from this study that thermal neutron activation with an accelerator is more convenient for the rapid and non-destructive analysis of ppm-level vanadium in bulk carbons than thermal neutron activation analysis with a reactor. Proton induced X-ray emission is less useful for the analysis of bulk samples.     

Instrumental multielement activation analysis of soil samples

Soil samples from a waste water cleaning facility in Berlin, Germany, have been analyzed using several activation analysis methods. 43 elements have been determined by instrumental high energy photon activation analysis (PAA), instrumental thermal neutron activation analysis (NAA) and 14 MeV neutron activation analysis (fNAA). Conventional gamma ray spectroscopy and low energy photon spectroscopy (LEPS) have been applied for product activity measurement. It has turned out that these methods in combination offer a wide spectrum of analytical information.     

The Status of Activation Analysis in Archaeology and Geochemistry

Many of the initial applications for activation analysis occurred in the fields of archaeology, geochemistry and cosmochemistry. In addition to the desire to investigate noteworthy problems of interest to these disciplines, the reasons for employing activation analysis were based on the advantages of sample preparation, sensitivity, multi-element capability, and non-destructiveness. Nearly fifty years later and despite the development of several new analytical methods, we find that many of these same advantages continue to attract interest in activation analysis from these same disciplines. This overview discusses the past, present and future role of activation analysis with regard to research questions in archaeology, geochemistry, and cosmochemistry.     

Simultane instrumentelle Multielementbestimmung in antiker Keramik (Terra Sigillata) durch Aktivierungsanalyse mit hochenergetischen Photonen

A large number of fragments of ancient roman pottery has been analyzed for main constituents, minor and trace-elements using high-energetic photon activation analysis followed by high resolution gamma spectroscopy. Especially the environmental influence on the concentrations of the minor constituents and trace elements during deposition of the sherds in the soil has been examined. Finally, a comparison has been made between analysis data of ancient pottery obtained by photon activation analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis and 14 MeV-neutron activation analysis.      

Neutron activation analysis of the rare earth elements in rocks from the earth's upper mantle and deep crust

Three techniques for analyzing rare earth elements (REE) in geological materials are described, i.e. instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), neutron activation analysis with pre-irradiation chemical REE separation (PCS-NAA) and radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA). The knowledge of REE concentrations in eclogites, peridotites and minerals from the earth's lower crust and upper mantle is very useful in constraining their petrogenetic history.     

Determination of trace elements in various materials by activation analysis

Recent works on the trace analysis of various materials by activation analysis are summarized. INAA and IPAA are applied for the multielement determination of various standard reference materials and electronic materials. As an example, the analytical results of pepperbush and fluoride glass are shown. In activation analysis using chemical separation, the destructive neutron activation analysis coupled with isotope addition technique is presented and applied to the determination of trace impurities in indium phosphide. Selective substoichiometry and substoichiometric separagtions of some elements are also introduced.     

Anwendung der Aktivierungsanalyse in der Biochemie

Zusammenfassung Im ersten Teil der Arbeit wird eine kurze Einführung in die Grundlagen der Aktivierungsanalyse gegeben. Der zweite Teil ist ein Überblick über die Anwendungen der Aktivierungsanalyse in der Biochemie. Es werden die methodischen Besonderheiten der Aktivierungsanalyse von biologischem Material beschrieben. An Hand ausgewählter Beispiele wird gezeigt, welche biochemischen Probleme bisher mit Hilfe aktivierungsanalytischer Methoden bearbeitet wurden. Dabei wurde folgende Einteilung vorgenommen: Bestimmung der leichten Hauptbestandteile; Bestimmung der schwereren Hauptbestandteile; Aktivierungsanalyse nach Derivatbildung; inaktive Markierung, Isotopenanalyse; Spurenbestimmung; Aktivierungsanalyse in vivo.

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Application of activation analysis in biochemistry

The first part comprises a short introduction to the basic principles of activation analysis. The second part is a survey of activation analysis in life sciences. The special techniques needed for analysing biological material are outlined and using selected examples it is shown how various problems have been solved with activation analysis. The problems were classified as follows: determination of the main constituents (light elements C, N, O; other elements); derivative activation analysis; stable tracers, isotopic analysis; determination of trace elements; activation analysis in vivo.

     

Methodological developments and applications of neutron activation analysis

The paper reviews the author’s experience acquired and achievements made in methodological developments of neutron activation analysis (NAA) of mostly biological materials. These involve epithermal neutron activation analysis, radiochemical neutron activation analysis using both single-and multi-element separation procedures, use of various counting modes, and the development and use of self-verification principle. The role of NAA in the detection of analytical errors is discussed and examples of applications of the procedures developed are given.     

Activation analysis opportunities using a 5·1012 to 5·1013 n/sec 14 MeV generator

Capabilities of 14 MeV neutron activation analysis with a high output generator are evaluated and found to be comparable with conventional activation analysis regarding sensitivity and precision; additional elements are instrumentally accessible at trace levels. Nuclear reactions featuring higher selectivity are listed and their sensitivity is compared to the present state of 14 MeV activation. Quasi-promt activation (T<1 sec) expands the scope of the technique to rapid nondestructive assays of trace species in bulk samples.     

Nuclear activation techniques in the life sciences 1978

The proceeding of the IAEA symposium held in 1978 on nuclear activation techniques in the life sciences are reviewed. A total of 56 papers are reviewed on methodology, analytical quality control, comparisons between neutron activation analysis and other methods, and applications of activation analysis in biology and medicine (including in-vivo activation analysis) and in public and environmental health. The materials analysed in the papers are adjusted in connection with the elements determined and the purposes of the study. Those elements are tabulated together with the analytical methods used for the element determination. The standard reference materials analysed for the check of the reliability of analysis are also arranged. Proc. Symp. Nuclear Activation Techniques in the Life Sciences, IAEA, Vienna, 1978.     

Rapid analysis of biological reference materials by instrumental neutron activation

Summary Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied to the rapid determination of cadmium and other elements in the IAEA biological reference material horse-kidney (H-8). Nuclear reactor neutrons and epithermal neutrons were used as neutron sources. Cadmium, bromide, iodine and phosphorus were determined by epithermal neutron activation analysis. Aluminum was determined by reactor neutron activation analysis taking into account the contribution of phosphorus to the ²⁸Al activity.     

CLP-type data validation guidelines for neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis data quality must be validated to serve evidentiary purposes for environmental restoration and health protection projects. This paper gives a basis for determining the technical validity of neutron activation analysis data.     

Quantitative evaluation of interference reactions in photon activation analysis

Interferences of different types (competing reactions, overlapping photons emission energies etc.) occur more frequently during activation analysis with high energy exciting radiation that in conventional thermal neutron activation. Three main types of interference in high energy photon activation analysis (PAA) have been determined quantitatively, using experimentally obtained data exclusively. Based on the results presented, it is possible in many critical cases to improve significantly the accuracy of analysis results obtained by PAA.     

Activation analysis with fast neutrons using a cyclotron

A systematic study of activation analysis with cyclotron-produced neutrons for (n, 2n), (n, p) and (n, α) reactions is presented. The limits of detection for elements of atomic number from 6 to 80 are given. The possibilities of optimization of irradiation conditions by the choice of the most suitable neutron spectrum are discussed. The potential of this fast neutron activation analysis method is compared with that of 14 MeV neutron activation analysis.     

Web-based spectrum analysis software for photon activation analysis

Photon activation analysis (PAA) includes extensive data evaluation that is sensitive to error. In order to save time and minimize human error, a new computer program—photon activation analysis system (PAAS)—was designed, built and implemented using the SQL language and Asp.net technology to analyze PAA data. Given peak information from PAA spectra and aided by a photonuclear data library, the program identifies the product isotopes, recognizes the possible nuclear reactions, and evaluates the concentration of target elements. Uncertainties of concentrations are estimated using standard error propagation techniques. The program can be accessed conveniently anywhere the internet is available and gives a fast and reliable determination of the trace elemental content of samples. Furthermore, this program also allow one to search its database for the information of general photonuclear reactions (e.g. energy lines, line intensities, target and product nuclides, photonuclear reactions, cross sections, natural abundance, etc.) and estimating the activity even before the activation begins. By switching the nuclide libraries, the program could also be expanded to neutron activation analysis and charged particle activation analysis (CPAA) without any difficulty. This program can be a versatile tool for the daily use of the nuclear and radiochemistry laboratories that conduct activation analysis.     

A cyclic neutron activation system using an isotopic neutron source for the measurement of short-lived isotopes

The design and construction of an activation analysis system using an isotopic neutron source which allows the measurement of prompt and delay gamma-rays, in conventional activation and cyclic activation modes, is briefly described with emphasis laid on its flexibility, transportability and low cost. Photon spectra obtained from the irrdiation of large samples under prompt, delay and cyclic conditions using both NaI(Tl) and Ge(Li) detectors are presented and described with respect to ‘in-vivo’ neutron activation analysis and the measurement of N, O, Na, P, Cl and Cd. It is pointed out that, despite the attractive possiblity of measuring Se in liver, ‘in-vivo’, by cyclic activation analysis, the system may potentially prove a very useful tool for industrial and other non-medical applications.     

New perspectives for very short-lived neutron activation analysis

Recent attempts to improve the performance of very short-lived neutron activation analysis are reviewed. It is shown that the combination of an intense cold neutron beam from a research reactor with a beam chopper offers higher signal-to-background ratio, more accurate timing and much simpler sample handling than conventional cyclic activation analysis. Application of a digital spectrum analyzer in data list mode allows for easy determination of the half-life. Hence, time-resolved activation analysis utilizing energy and time information becomes practical. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.