Transfer factors of 31 elements in several agricultural plants collected from 150 farm fields in Aomori, Japan

Soil-to-plant transfer factors of 31 stable elements were determined by neutron activation analysis. The transfer factor is one of the important parameters used to estimate the internal radiation dose from radionuclides through food ingestion. In the present study, 12 species of agricultural plants such as root crops, fruit vegetables, green vegetables and pasture grasses, and their soils were collected from 150 farm fields in Aomori prefecture, Japan. The elements described are those that could be detected by this method, which include both essential and nonessential elements for plant growth. The concentrations of individual elements in the cultivated soil samples for each plant were similar in values and their standard deviations were within one order of magnitude, because of the relatively narrow geographic sampling area. The elements were classified into two groups, each having different transfer factor characteristics. In the first group of elements there was an inverse correlation between the transfer factors and the concentrations of elements in the soil, especially for Cl, K and Ca. In the second group, especially Sc and Co, however, the transfer factors were independent of the concentrations of elements in the soil.     

Relative ion yields measured with a high-resolution glow discharge mass spectrometer operated with an argon/hydrogen mixture

Quantitative elemental analysis by glow discharge mass spectrometry (GDMS) requires a calibration factor for each element. The calibration factors used in the present work are called relative ion yields (RIYs). The RIYs of each of 19 elements within samples of four National Institute of Standards and Technology steel reference materials (nos. 661-664) were measured using pure argon and an argon mixture containing 1.0% hydrogen by volume. The RIYs measured using pure argon correlated within a factor of approximately 2–3 to the RIYs calculated by a theoretical model. The RlYs measured for these 19 elements using the argon mixture containing 1.0% hydrogen correlated within a factor of approximately 1.3 to the calculated RIYs. These results may have significant analytical potential with respect to GDMS and may have application to other plasma techniques.     

Neutron activation analysis of ivory of African elephants

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied to 80 samples from various African countries and 81 samples from the Kruger National Park in the Republic of South Africa. Twelve elements such as Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cs, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Sc, Sr, and Zn, were determined in all samples. The factor scores of each sample were calculated from those elemental concentrations for the first and second factors to clarify the differences of samples from various African countries with those from Kruger Park. The results were compared with those by stable isotope analysis (¹³C and¹⁵N).     

Biomonitoring of environmental pollution based on studies of trace elements in soil and crops

Most elemental concentrations in crops should be related to those in soil and other circumferential environments. In the present study, more than thirty minor and trace elements in soils and crops were determined by the use of ICP, XRF and NAA. Soil and crop samples were collected at eleven abandoned mine regions in Chungnam province located in the middle part of Korea. The elemental concentrations in soils were compared to the crustal mean concentrations in both Chungnam area and worldwide. The concentration ratios of the elements in soils and crop compartments were calculated and the distribution characteristics of each element were investigated between soil and crop compartments.     

Neutron activation analysis of ivory of African elephants

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied to 61 ivory samples of which origin countries are known. 12 elements such as Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cs, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Sc, Sr and Zn, were determined in all samples. The factor score of each sample was calculated for each factor by making use of principal component analysis in order to determine their origins. The results were compared with those by stable isotope analysis (¹³C and¹⁵N).     

A standardless approach of INAA for grouping study of ancient potteries

The k ₀ based internal monostandard neutron activation analysis was used to analyze 41 ancient pottery samples from three major locations of Andhra Pradesh state, India, belonging to two different age groups namely Megalithic and Buddhist periods. Samples were irradiated with neutron flux obtained from CIRUS reactor and radioactive assay was carried out using a 40% relative efficiency HPGe detector coupled to 8?k MCA. Concentration ratios of 21 elements were calculated with respect to internal monostandard Sc. Absolute concentrations for six (three each from both Megalithic and Buddhist periods) representative samples along with a modern pottery were obtained for comparison. Elemental concentration ratios with respect to Sc were used for grouping of these archaeological samples. Preliminary grouping of these artifacts was done using La/Ce values, and the grouping was confirmed by statistical cluster analysis using eleven selected trace elements. The IAEA RM SL-3 sample was analysed for validation of the method, where in both concentration ratios and absolute concentrations were calculated.     

铝合金建材的X射线荧光分析

用高性能飞利浦PW2424型X射线荧光光谱仪,测定铝合金建材中的Si、Fe、Cu、Mn、Mg、Zn、Ti、Cr、Ni等9个化学元素的含量.给出各元素的干扰校正系数和基体效应校正系数.方法准确、灵敏,稳定性好,速度快.     

Use of the National Physical Laboratory ionization chamber type 1383A in neutron activation analysis

The National Physical Laboratory γ-ionization chamber has been used for the measurement of chemical yield by re-irradiation in a method for the determination of arsenic by neutron activation analysis. Satisfactory accuracy and a precision of 1% were obtained with a single reading. Discrimination against other radioisotopes is achieved by irradiating for a short time and measuring at a total decay time of one mean life of the radionuclide to be determined; the resulting discrimination factor is given as a function of the half-life ratio. Maximum sensitivities for 66 elements with γ-emitting thermal neutron capture products were calculated for irradiation and decay times both equal to one half-life, and it is shown that the sensitivity for shorter irradiations at the selected time of measurement is a linear function of the irradiation time. More than a dozen elements were found suitable for determination at the milligram level by neutron activation followed by γ-ionization chamber measurement. The error from interfering elements can be directly estimated from their expected concentrations by means of the calculated sensitivities and discrimination factors presented in the paper.     

Study of size-fractionated coal-combustion aerosols using instrumental neutron activation analysis

The chemical composition of aerosols emitted during coal combustion was studied as a function of particle size down to 0.01 m. The aerosol collections were carried out in a 81 MW capacity boiler that burned Venezuelan coal in a circulating fluidized bed combustion chamber. The samples were analyzed with upstream of the electrostatic precipitator using a Berner low-pressure impactor, which was quipped with a cyclone pre-cutter to avoid overloading of the first impaction stages. The samples were analyzed by INAA for up to about 40 elements. The elemental concentrations in the particulate matter for each impaction stage were plotted as a function of stage number (particle size). For the elements Na, Al, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Ga, La and Sm, the concentration variation was limited to a factor of 2 to 4, and the concentrations of these elements were lower for the initial and final impactor stages than for the intermediate particle sizes. The variations were also limited to a factor of 2–4 for Mn, Fe, As, Sb and Th, butall these elements showed increasing concentrations with decreasing particle size. Still other elements, such as Ni, Cr, Co, Za, W, Mo and the halogens, were highly enriched (up to 20–100 fold) in the fine particles when compared with the coarse particles.     

Assessment of elemental contamination in the bottom sediments from a dam reservoir using a sequential extraction technique and chemometric analysis

The concentration of elements in sediments is an important aspect of the quality of water ecosystems. The element concentrations in bottom sediments from Goczalkowice Reservoir, Poland, were investigated to determine the levels, accumulation and distribution of elements; to understand the contamination and potential toxicity of elements; and to trace the possible source of pollution. Sediments were collected from 8 sampling points. The functional speciation, mobility and bioavailability of elements were evaluated by means of modified Tessier sequential extraction. The element contents were measured by optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. The experimental results were analyzed using chemometric methods such as principal component analysis and cluster analysis to elucidate the metal distributions, correlations and associations. The highest concentrations of most elements were found at the center of the reservoir. The distribution of metals in the individual fractions was varied. To assess the extent of anthropogenic impact indices, contamination factor, degree of contamination, metal pollution index and risk assessment code were applied. The calculated factors showed the highest contamination factor and the ability of chromium to be released from sediments. The degree of contamination showed that the area is characterized by a very high contamination. Strontium and manganese showed high potential ecological risk for sediments.      

Determination of the Speciation of Cadmium, Lead, and Copper in Seawater and the Complexing Ability of Seawater Components with Respect to Cd, Pb, and Cu

The concentrations of cadmium, lead, and copper in the water of Amur Bay were determined by anodic stripping voltammetry, and the speciation of these elements in the seawater was calculated. The predominant complexes of cadmium, lead, and copper were determined in the seawater by ion exchange under dynamic conditions. The concentrations of anionic, cationic, and neutral complexes of cadmium, lead, and copper in the seawater were calculated. The ability of seawater components to form complexes with these trace elements was assessed.     

INAA of Zr,La, Ce and Nd in geological samples in the presence of different uranium concentratios

Rock samples which contain relatively high concentrations of uranium may create problems of interference produced by fission products, when instrumental neutron activation analysis is used. The isotopes⁹⁵Zr,¹⁴⁰La,¹⁴¹Ce, 143Ce and 147Nd, which are commonly used in the neutron activation analysis of the corresponding elements, are also produced as fission products of²³⁵U. For each of these radioisotopes, a contribution factor is calculated theoretically and meaured experimentally using geological samples with different uranium contents.     

Multivariate statistical analysis of aerosol immission data — An exemplary investigation on the North Frisian island of Pellworm

Element concentrations of 23 elements in different particle size fractions of aerosol samples from the island of Pellworm in the German Bight were analyzed by the help of total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis. These immission data were investigated with multivariate statistical methods. Multivariate correlation analysis, as a newer chemometric method, demonstrates the autocorrelation of the immission state for different particle size fractions of dustlike aerosols. The immission of smaller particles is more strongly autocorrelated than that of larger particles. The factor analysis of each particle size fraction allows the extraction of two pollution factors for each fraction. The weights of these factors, anthropogenic and sea spray, change with size. The anthropogenic factor is more highly weighed for smaller particles, the sea spray factor is stronger in larger particles. The dependence of factor scores for smaller particles on wind direction indicates the sources of the extracted factors.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of sewage sludge and compost

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been applied for the analysis of four sewage sludges of municpal water treatment plants, one sludge of an industrial water treatment plant one compost of a municipal compostation plant in Belgium. This pilot study showed that concentrations for 41 elements could be obtained. Tests for homogeneity and accuracy indicated the necessity of a thorough grinding and homogenization of the samples before analysis. The concentrations obtained were compared with the mean soil composition and the possible enrichment of heavy metals in the soil calculated when the materials are used as a manure to agricultural land. The Zn concentration is mostly the limiting factor for the agricultural application.     

Theoretical Calculations of Relative Ion Yields for Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry

Quantitative determination of the elemental composition of metals and other solids by glow discharge mass spectrometry requires a calibration factor for each element. In past work, these factors, called relative ion yields (RIYs), have been determined experimentally from the mass spectra of standards of certified composition. The RlYs of some elements were found to be over 10 times larger than the RIYs of other elements. In this study a simple calculation of the RIYs of the elements within the same sample is derived from a theoretical framework which takes into account the combined effects of sputtering and ionization. The ionization function involves the electron affinity and the first ionization potential of each element, plus two unknown parameters. By favorable selection of a temperature parameter and a chemical-potential parameter, the RIYs calculated by this method were found to agree satisfactorily with the experimental RlYs of former work. The temperature of 16,000 K (used in this work) corresponds to an average electron energy of ～ 2 eV.     

A comparison of the performance of a fundamental parameter method for analysis of total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectra and determination of trace elements,versus an empirical quantification procedure

The performance has been compared of two different quantification methods — namely, the commonly used empirical quantification procedure and a fundamental parameter approach — for determination of the mass fractions of elements in particulate-like sample residues on a quartz reflector measured in the total reflection geometry. In the empirical quantification procedure, the spectrometer system needs to be calibrated with the use of samples containing known concentrations of the elements. On the basis of intensities of the X-ray peaks and the known concentration or mass fraction of an internal standard element, by using relative sensitivities of the spectrometer system the concentrations or mass fractions of the elements are calculated. The fundamental parameter approach does not require any calibration of the spectrometer system to be carried out. However, in order to account for an unknown mass per unit area of a sample and sample nonuniformity, an internal standard element is added. The concentrations/mass fractions of the elements to be determined are calculated during fitting a modelled X-ray spectrum to the measured one. The two quantification methods were applied to determine the mass fractions of elements in the cross-sections of a peat core, biological standard reference materials and to determine the concentrations of elements in samples prepared from an aqueous multi-element standard solution.     

Study of Matrix Effects on Determination of Trace Elements in Aluminum,Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry, 1) Selection of Spectral Lines.

Abstract

The effect of an aluminum matrix on the determination of B, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Si and Zn was studied. These elements are expected to be present in high purity Al base materials. 45 spectral lines of these elements were scanned in a spectral window of 60 pm. Background equivalent concentrations were calculated and compared with existing data. Interference free spectral lines, one for each element, have been recommended to be used for analysis. Depression effects due to the Al matrix were calculated at the selected lines.     

An indirect study of air pollution by neutron activation analysis of snow

Al, As, Br, Cd, Ce, Cl, Co, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Sb, Sc, Sr, Ti, V and Zn were determined in the soluble and insoluble fractions of snow which was collected at 6 differents sites in the Montreal area. From these data the variability coefficients and the enrichment factors were calculated and the probable sources of each element are discussed. The overall concentrations found in the snow were compared with the concentrations of these elements in the air sampled in the same area by high volume samplers. From these, the snow-out ratios for Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, V and Zn and their mean were calculated. They are equal to 3338, 3389, 2322, 526, 563, 2603 and 2913 m³/kg respectively.     

Determination and assessment of the contents of essential and potentially toxic elements in Ayurvedic medicine formulations by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry

Traditional Ayurvedic remedies are easily available nowadays not only in India, their country of origin, but also in Western countries. Some of these products contain high concentrations of potentially toxic elements as main or secondary ingredients, in addition to elements essential for human health; for these reasons, it is interesting to determine their elemental composition. In this study we assessed the concentrations of fifteen elements (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Si and Zn) in five products of the Parpati family, a group of Ayurvedic medicines containing high concentrations of mercury, manufactured in various places in India. Concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) or (for Pb and Cd) by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) after sample mineralization. We compared the calculated daily intake of each element with reference values, considering maximum tolerable intake levels or recommended nutrient amounts. The experimental results were treated with chemometric pattern recognition techniques. We found differences in the composition of products of the same denomination manufactured by different companies and strong correlations among groups of variables. As expected, the daily intake of mercury upon consumption of Parpati medicines largely exceeded the tolerable intake level of this element.     

Determination of Rare-Earth Elements in Sulfide Minerals by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry with Ion-Exchange Preconcentration

A procedure was developed for determining ultratrace rare-earth elements in sulfide minerals by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with ion-exchange preconcentration. The concentration factor was 200. The found concentrations of rare-earth elements were 6–30 times lower than those in chondrites. For lanthanum and praseodymium, RSD < 10%; for other rare-earth elements, RSD < 6%. The accuracy of the results was verified by the addition of known amounts of Eu, Tb, Tm, and Lu to a chalcopyrite sample at the stage of decomposition with HCl and HNO₃. The calculated yield of rare-earth elements was 94–96%. The detection limit was from 0.06 ng/g (6 × 10^–9%) for lutetium to 5 ng/g (5 × 10^–7%) for cerium. The procedure was used for the determination of rare-earth elements in chalcopyrites, pyrites, and sphalerites.