Determination of trace elements in sugar cane refuse by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Multielemental instrumental neutron activation analysis has been utilized for the determination of micro, trace and ultratrace amounts of Al, As, Au, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, F, Fe, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Sc, V and W in sugar cane refuses of Armant, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Deshna and Naga Hammady Factories. The element concentrations are below the safety baseline levels. Variations of results may be related to different botanic structures, different compositions of sugar cane plants or ecologic changes in soil. The method is accurate and precise. The relative errors are in the range of 0.3–12.3%.