Determination of Trace Elements in Liquid Fuels by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Abstract

An instrumental neutron activation analysis with Ge(Li) γ -spectrometry and computer-assisted data reduction, has been developed for the determination of more than 20 elements in different liquid fuels. Organo-metallic standard solutions were mixed to obtain suitable standards. Two neutron irradiations and 4 γ-spectrometric measurements are required for each sample. Corrections were taken into account for a few spectrometric and nuclear interferences. The overall standard deviation for nearly all elements is mainly determined by counting statistics. The following elements can be determined : Na, Al, S, Cl, K, Sc, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br and La whereas the concentration of the following elements are mostly near the limit of detection: Mg, Mo, Sb, Ba, Th and Hg.     

南极岩石样品中稀土元素的中子活化分析

用仪器中子活化分析技术,测定了南极岩石中8种稀土元素含量,讨论了不同岩石的稀土模式特点。     

人体子宫癌活组织中微量元素的中子活化分析

本文利用样品的低温干燥预处理技术和仪器中子活化分析方法,同时测定了人体子宫癌活组织中的29种微量元素,并分别与宫颈炎组织和正常组织比较,初步研究结果表明,子宫癌组织,宫颈炎组织和正常组织中Au,I,Se等微量元素有显著差异。     

Determination of trace amounts of chlorine in hydraulic fluid by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

A procedure has been developed for the determination by thermal neutron activation analysis of trace amounts of total chlorine in the Electro-Hydraulic-Control /EHC/ fluid used by the Hadera Power Station in various hydraulic systems. Irradiation for 1 min near the core of a nuclear reactor is followed by high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry using a Ge/Li/ detector. Chlorine amount is quantitatively determined by measuring the gamma-ray photopeaks of the radioactive nuclide³⁸Cl. The system response is linear in the concentration ranges investigated. Chlorine concentration in a fresh hydraulic fluid sample was found to be 17.6±0.5 ppm. The limit of detection, when assaying a 1 cm³ sample of fluid under the present experimental conditions, is 1 g of chlorine and the corresponding concentration is 1 ppm.     

Ultra-trace nutritional and toxicological elements in Rome and Florence drinking waters determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

In order to ascertain water quality for human consumption, the evaluation of trace and ultra-trace elements in drinking waters of two Italian cities, Rome and Florence, is investigated together with the potabilization processes involved and the relative human exposure to the contaminants. Through a multi-elemental detection with no chemical treatment using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis and Proton-Induced X-ray Emission the concentration of 40 elements is determined. Basically, the concentrations of the investigated parameters in drinking waters were within the permissible limits of the World Health Organization drinking water quality guidelines and the Water Pollution Control legislation of Italian authorities. The Rome drinking water shows a chemical water composition quite similar to uncontaminated natural water: potentially toxic elements (e.g., Cr, Hg, Ni, and Sb) are present at very low concentrations whereas the levels of nutritionally essential elements are adequate and low levels of I and Se cannot be considered a cause of deficiency diseases. A multivariate statistical approach was used to identify both the origins and correlations among elements and the six different apportionments contributing to the water supply in Rome. For the drinking waters distributed in Florence, the element levels show a sufficiently good situation, except for Al (range 103–267 μg/L) that is present at reasonable concentrations for almost the entire population due to the hard potabilization procedure involving aluminum salts. The values of Metal Index (MI), that helps to quickly evaluate the overall quality of drinking waters, show a good drinking water quality in Rome (Fe is the only element to be considered critical) whereas in Florence the situation is influenced by Al levels. No relevant differences are found among Rome and Florence water composition and other Italian and world potable waters.This study can be considered a useful reference for studies aimed to highlighting toxicological, nutritional and environmental disease patterns.     

Determination of Essential Elements in Ayurvedic Medicinal Leaves by k0 Standardized Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Elemental concentrations of a few medicinal leaves are determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis using the single comparator (k ₀) method. Data obtained for neem leaves, collected from two different places, have been used to see the effect of soil condition. The applicability of the method particularly for the simultaneous determination of Ca, Mg, V and Al in biological matrices has been evaluated in terms of the detection limit, precision and accuracy. The method was validated by analysing the NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM-1571) and it was found that the elemental concentrations measured in SRM-1571 are within ±10% of the reported values.     

Determination of Tellurium by Instrumental Photon Activation Analysis

Abstract

Tellurium has been determined at milligram and submilligram levels in the presence of uranium by a strictly instrumental photon activation ¹²¹ analysis procedure. The 575 keV gamma ray of Te was measured. At a decay time of three weeks, this gamma ray peak was interference-free. As little as 0.4 mg of tellurium was determined and the method evidences that sensitivity would increase with irradiation time.     

Heavy metal determination in atmospheric particulate matter by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) is employed for its important analytical properties. Fundamentally, INAA is a multi-elemental technique allowing the determination of about 40 elements with a good Limit of Detection. In this paper we applied this nuclear technique to study the element composition in PM10 determining about 30 elements.25 filters were collected in downtown Rome from October 1999 to April 2000 and irradiated at the nuclear reactor Triga Mark II (ENEA-Casaccia Laboratories). The γ-ray measurements have allowed the quali- and quantitative analysis. The element levels in PM10 with the relative correlations have been determined: basically, the concentrations are very low.Furthermore, the enrichment factors of all elements will be reported in order to understand the natural or anthropogenic origins of the particulate matter: some elements may be attributed to long-range transport phenomena from other natural and/or anthropogenic sources.     

Determination of Heavy Metals as Environmental Pollutants: Use of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

The simultaneous determination of heavy metals by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in some environmental samples have been considered. A new approach has been proposed to assess the potentialities and the most adequate use of INAA for each particular heavy metal.     

The determination of molybdenum in geological samples by Neutron Activation Analysis

A metal-silicate extraction technique combined with neutron activation analysis has been developed to determine molybdenum in geological samples. The samples are equilibrated with Femetal powder at high temperatures. Molybdenum is completely extracted into the metal phase because of very reducing conditions in the furnace. The metal spherule is separated from the silicates, irradiated and dissolved in an acid solution. The molybdenum is precipitated as a sulfide and the precipitate is dissolved in aqua regia and counted on a Ge/Li/detector. The radiochemical yield is obtained by irradiation of the solution. The method avoids production of⁹⁹Mo from induced fission of²³⁵U by performing the metal-silicate separation before irradiation. The precipitation step may be necessary to remove the high background from the decay of⁵⁹Fe. Mo concentrations down to 15 ng/g have been obtained using this method.     

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis for Certification of Ion-Implanted Arsenic in Silicon

Standard reference material (SRM) 2134 Arsenic Implant in Silicon was produced at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a calibrant for secondary ion mass spectrometry. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used as a primary method for certification of the arsenic implanted dose. A complete evaluation of all sources of uncertainty yielded an expanded relative uncertainty for the mean value of this SRM to be 0.38% at approximately the 95% level of confidence. No evidence indicating significant heterogeneity among samples was observed.     

制革废水中总铬的萃取光度法测定

研究了在含氯离子的酸性溶液中,用醋酸戊酯萃取二甲基吲哚二羰花青(DIDC)染料与Cr(Ⅵ)配合物,基于此,建立了一种测定Cr(Ⅵ)的新的光度法。结果表明在3 5mol/L～5 0mol/L的HCl介质中,醋酸戊酯对配合物的萃取率最高;最大吸收波长为640nm;摩尔吸光系数为3 6×105L·mol-1·cm-1,检出限为2 0×10-3mg/L,有色溶液的吸光度与Cr(Ⅵ)量在0 01mg/L～2 1mg/L范围内符合比尔定律,加标回收率为96 8%～104 5%(n=6),Cr(Ⅵ)∶Cl-∶DIDC的摩尔比为1∶1∶1。本法测定了制革废水中的总铬含量。     

中子活化分析测定油菜叶绿体中的微量元素

１　　引　　　　言微量元素如锰、铁和铜在植物光合作用中起重要作用,其在叶绿体中的含量与赋存状态已被广泛研究,但对叶绿体中其它微量元素的含量及对光合作用的影响研究较少。近年来,大量实验证明稀土元素能提高植物光合作用的能力,但叶绿体中是否含有稀土元素还不清楚。本工作分离并纯化了油菜的叶绿体,用中子活化分析测定了包括８个稀土元素在内的１９种微量元素的含量。２　　实验部分２．１　　仪器与试剂　　ＤＬ－７Ａ冷冻离心机（中国科学院武汉科学仪器厂）,７２１分光光度计（上海精密科学仪器有限公司）,高纯锗探测器及…     

The Determination by Neutron Activation Analysis of Selected Elements in Cigarettes

Abstract

Neutron activation analysis was used for the determination of Na, Al, CI, K, Ca, Sc, Mn, Cu, Br, and La in the tobacco, mainstream smoke condensate, paper, and dropped ash of the Kentucky Reference Cigarette (IRI). The procedure requires no sample transfers prior to activation and no radiochemical separations before counting.     

Nondestructive Determination of Mercury in Copper by Thermal Neutron Activation Analysis

Abstract

Thermal neutron activation analysis was applied to the nondestructive determination of parts per billion (p.p.b.) quantities of mercury in high purity, oxygen-free high conductivity (OFHC) copper. The data were treated to a five-point gamma spectrum smoothing to reduce the statistical variations due to the low count rates. Linear regression and a statistical evaluation of the data were also performed. Net photopeak counting rates of approximately 43 counts per minute (c.p.m.), compared to a background of approximately 6 c.p.m., were obtained for six two-gram copper samples containing 38 ± 12 p.p.b. mercury.     

Determination of platinum distribution in adenocarcinoma black-mice by Neutron Activation Analysis

30 female C57 bl. mice were treated with Adenocarcinoma im. in the right hind leg. Three days later cis-dichlorodiamine platinum was applied orally /15 mg/kg/ to all animals and additional 0.05 mg Prednisolone i.p. to 20 animals. Tissue samples from bloods, livers, kidneys, spleens, hearts, lungs, tumors and gastrointestinal tract were analyzed for their Pt concentration after therapy with cis-dichlorodiammine platinum complexes and Prednisolone by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Even 5 animals were sacrified. The amount of Pt in most of the organs examined remained under 0.05% of the quantity applied. Maximum values were detected at the end of the experiment, except for the gastrointestinal tract, the liver and the kidneys. Treatment of the animals with Prednisolone did not produce a significant different distribution of Pt. Only in tumor tissues a significantly higher amount of Pt was observed after Prednisolone treatment at 48 h but not at 72 h. Blood levels increased with time after Prednisolone treatment, without Prednisolone blood levels decreased.     

Determination of Trace Elements in Tea and Coffee by Neutron Activation Analysis

Thermal neutron activation analysis, a high-resolution Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometer, and an IBM 360/67 digital computer were used to determine the concentration of Na, K, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Sb, Cs, and Hg in ground coffee and tea. This nondestructive multielement technique requires neither pre- nor postirradiation chemistry and eliminates problems of reagent contamination. The method is simple, precise and sensitive to 15 elements. Interferences from fast neutron (n, p) and (n, α) reactions are small and, if necessary, corrections may be applied easily. This technique can be applied to percolated tea and coffee.     

Precise Determination of Macrocontents by Instrumental Activation Analysis: Chances and Risks

Modern technology produces a large variety of organic, metallo-organic and inorganic compounds which might be analysed successfully for their stoichiometry by INAA or IPAA if the error sources are kept under control. The problems of comparator materials, irradiation by linear accelerator, measurement and data evaluation including minor corrections are dealt with. Application to TiCN, Si₃N₄, SiC and nitrogen determination in different carbonaceous materials is reported.     

Determination of Trace Molybdenum in Biological Matrices by Neutron Activation Analysis

Based on consecutive extractions using bismuth diethyldithiocarbamate and thallium diethyldithiocarbamate as reagents, molybdenum was selectively and highly enriched from biological matrices, and then subjected to neutron activation analysis. Most of interfering elements, e.g., Na, K, Br, P, Fe, U, etc. were simultaneouly removed and the preconcentrated samples always showed only the r rays from molybdenum after neutron bombardment. Thus, molybdenum in the biological matrices could be accurately determined.     

Determination of Platinum-Group Elements and Gold in Silicates by Gamma Activation Autoradiography and Instrumental Gamma Activation Analysis

The potential of the gamma activation determination of platinum-group elements and gold both by instrumental gamma activation analysis (bulk analysis) and by monitoring their distribution using autoradiography (local analysis) is studied. It is shown that platinum-group elements and gold can be determined by direct gamma-ray spectrometry in silicate samples with a detection limit of 10^–3–10^–5%. In contact gamma activation autoradiography, the detection limit for these elements is about 10 ng with a spatial resolution of 10–20 m.