Instrumental photon activation analysis of soil samples using the internal standard method coupled with the standard addition method

Multielement determinations in the certified reference materials of soils (IAEA soil-5 and 7) have been studied fundamentally by instrumental photon activation analysis using the internal standard method coupled with the standard addition method. For the soil-5 sample, in the first place, the qualities of the comparative standards prepared by two processing methods were compared with each other. As a result, it was demonstrated that a highly accurate and precise multielement determination can be achieved easily by minor improvement in the processing method of the comparative standard to ensure homogeneity. The utility of this processing method for soil samples was proved further through a similar analysis in another soil sample (IAEA soil-7).