Determination of iodine in milk products and biological standard reference materials by epithermal neutron activation analysis

The biologically essential trace element, iodine, has been determined in various milk products by epithermal neutron activation analysis /ENAA/ after sealing in quartz and irradiating under cadmium cover. The method was extended to several IAEA and NBS biological reference materials.     

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.     

Determination of uranium,antimony, indium,bromine and cobalt in atmospheric aerosols using epithermal neutron activation and a low-energy photon detector

Owing to the high ratio of resonance integral to thermal neutron activation cross-section of²³⁸U, a 5 min epithermal neutron irradiation under cadmium shielding, followed by measurement of the 74 keV photopeak of²³⁹U with a high resolution low-energy photon Ge(Li) detector, allows the fast determination of uranium in aerosols collected on a Whatman 41 cellulose filter. Uranium blanks of the cellulose filter paper require correction and limit the sensitivity. Simultaneously the concentrations of the elements cobalt, bromine, antimony and indium can be determined. In Belgium, the uranium concentrations of the aerosols were found to be constant and comparable to the uranium contents of rocks.     

A comparison of two separation techniques using NaI(Tl) and Ge(Li) spectrometry for trace element determination in biological materials by neutron activation analysis

A comparison of two group separation techniques using either NaI(Tl) or Ge(Li) spectrometry is presented for trace element determination in biological materials by neutron activation analysis. The capabilities of both procedures are described in terms of detection limits, precision and accuracy for the determination of the elements As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mo, Ni, Sb, Se, Sn, and Zn in various types of biological samples. For this purpose the (standard) reference materials NBS SRM-1577 Bovine Liver, Bowen's Kale, IAEA Pig Kidney H-7 and IAEA Milk Powder A-11 were analyzed. An attempt was also made to minimize blank values for several elements.     

Evaluation of concentrations of major and trace elements in human lung using INAA and PIXE

The elemental concentrations of Br, Ca, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, F, Fe, Hf, K, Mg, Mn, Na, O, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, V and Zn in 15 human lung autopsy samples, taken from subjects aged more than fifty years old, were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) using reactor neutrons in conjunction with a high resolution detection system. Two modes of irradiation and counting were applied; namely cyclic neutron activation analysis (CNAA) and conventional neutron activation analysis. Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis, using a proton beam emerging from a 2 MV Van de Graff accelerator, was additionally employed and Ge, Ni, P and Ti were also identified in the lung tissue. Detection of the X-ray spectra was performed using a high resolution Si(Li) semiconductor. The relevance of these results, including a comparison between the concentrations of elements measured in a pig's lung using CNAA and those found in the human lung is discussed.     

Trace rare earth element analysis of IAEA Hair (HH-1), Animal Bone (H-5) and other biological standards by radiochemical neutron activation

A radiochemical neutron activation analysis using a rare earth group separation scheme has been used to measure ultratrace levels of rare earth elements (REE) in IAEA Human Hair (HH-1), IAEA Animal Bone (H-5), NBS Bovine Liver (SRM 1577), and NBS Orchard Leaf (SRM 1571) standards. The REE concentrations in Human Hair and Animal Bone range from 10^–8 g/g to 10^–11 g/g and their chondritic normalized REE patterns show a negative Eu anomaly and follow as a smooth function of the REE ionic radii. The REE patterns for NBS Bovine Liver and Orchard Leaf are identical except that their concentrations are higher. The similarity among the REE patterns suggest that the REE do not appear to be fractionated during the intake of biological materials by animals or humans.     

Determination of silver in SOIL-7 standard reference material by NAA

IAEA standard reference material SOIL-7 has been analyzed by both instrumental NAA and radiochemical NAA using epithermal neutron activation. These analyses confirm the NAA value of Ag in the intercomparison SOIL-7 which disagrees with some AAS values. Further geostandards were included and compared with literature data.     

Determination of silver using cyclic epithermal neutron activation analysis

A fast pneumatic transfer facility was installed in Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory (NETL) of the University of Texas at Austin for the purpose of cyclic thermal and epithermal neutron activation analysis. In this study efforts were focused on the evaluation of cyclic epithermal neutron activation analysis (CENAA). Various NIST and CANMET certified materials were analyzed by the system. Experiment results showed ¹¹⁰Ag with its 25 s half-life as one of the isotopes favored by the system. Thus, the system was put into practical application in identifying silver in metallic ores. Comparison of sliver concentrations as determined by CENAA in CANMET certified reference materials gave very good results.     

Determination of cadmium in zinc ores by thermal neutron absorption analysis

A method has been developed for routine determination of cadmium in zinc ores by thermal neutron absorption analysis, based on the attenuation of a thermal neutron flux passing through a neutron absorbing material. The thermal neutron flux is related to the⁵²V-activity induced in a vanadium detector, surrounded by pellets pressed from a mixture of powdered material with graphite. Besides cadmium, also the major constitutents zinc, iron and sulfur contribute significantly to the total attenuation of the thermal neutron flux. Calibration lines for these elements are worked out. All irradiations are carried out for 200 s in the partially thermalized neutron flux of a 5 Ci²²⁷Ac—Be isotope neutron source. After a decay of 30 s, the⁵²V-activity of the vanadium detector is measured for 400 s with a NaI(T1) scintillation detector. The analysis sequence, including the computation of the results from the counting data, is automated by means of a LSI—11 microprocessor with 12K×16 bit memory. Zinc ores, containing 0.02 to 1.45% cadmium, have been analyzed with a precision ranging from 12.6% to 0.54% relative. As a test for the reliability of the method, two NBS standard reference materials were analyzed in the same way as the zinc ore samples.     

Multi-element determinations of trace elements in glass by instrumental photon activation analysis

An instrumental photon activation method is reported for multi-element determinations in glass. The concentrations of 17 elements in NBS standard glass can be determined by irradiation with 30-MeV bremsstrahlung and measurement of the resulting γ-rays with a Ge(Li) detector. The average of all relative standard deviations is 2.7%; the relative deviations from the NBS certified values range from 1.4 to 3.4%.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of Obsidian rock

An instrumental neutron activation analysis technique has been developed for the simultaneous determination of up to 30 elements including major, minor and trace elements in Obsidian Rock (a proposed NBS-SRM-278). INAA method involves both short and long irradiations followed by gamma-ray activity measurement with a Ge(Li) detector. The accuracy of the procedure has been checked by analyzing IAEA Reference Materials.     

Determination of cadmium in environmental materials by fast neutron activation analysis

Cadmium is determined by activation analysis with fast neutrons, obtained by irradiation of a thick beryllium target with 14.5-MeV deutrons. Cadmium-111m, formed via the ¹¹²Cd(n, 2n)^111mCd and ¹¹¹Cd(n, n′)^111mCd reactions, is separated by liquid—liquid extraction with zinc dithyldithiocarbamate in chloroform and measured with a Ge(Li) γ-spectrometer. For low concentrations, cadmium is precipitated as cadmium ammonium phosphate after the extraction. NBS and BCR reference materials were analyzed: for concentrations between 3 and 500 μg g^?1, the relative standard deviation ranges from 5 to 3% The results obtained for sewage sludge are compared with those obtained by reactor neutron activation analysis.     

Application of epithermal neutron activation in multielement analysis of silicate rocks employing both coaxial Ge(Li) and low energy photon detector systems

The instrumental activation analysis of silicate rocks using epithermal neutrons has been studied using both high resolution coaxial Ge(Li) detectors and low energy photon detectors, and applied to the determination of 23 elements in eight new U.S.G.S. standard rocks. The analytical use X-ray peaks associated with electron capture or internal conversion processes has been evaluated. Of 28 elements which can be considered to be determinable by instrumental means, the epithermal activation approach is capable of giving improved sensitivity and precision in 16 cases, over the normal INAA procedure. In eleven cases the use of the low energy photon detector is thought to show advantages over convertional coaxial Ge(Li) spectroscopy.     

Methods for preparing comparative standards and field samples for neutron activation analysis of soil

One of the more difficult problems associated with comparative neutron activation analysis (CNAA) is the preparation of standards which are tailor-made to the desired irradiation and counting conditions. Frequently, there simply is not a suitable standard available commercially, or the resulting gamma spectrum is convoluted with interferences. In a recent soil analysis project, the need arose for standards which contained about 35 elements. In response, a computer spreadsheet was developed to calculate the appropriate amount of each element so that the resulting gamma spectrum is relatively free of interferences. Incorporated in the program are options for calculating all of the irradiation and counting parameters including activity produced, necessary flux/bombardment time, counting time, and appropriate source-to-detector distance. The result is multi-element standards for CNAA which have optimal concentrations. The program retains ease of use without sacrificing capability. In addition to optimized standard production, a novel soil homogenization technique was developed which is a low cost, highly efficient alternative to commercially available homogenization systems. Comparative neutron activation analysis for large scale projects has been made easier through these advancements. This paper contains details of the design and function of the NAA spreadsheet and innovative sample handling techniques.     

Epithermal neutron activation analysis using the monostandard method

A method is described for epithermal neutron activation analysis of 17 elements in granite rock samples using a single standard. Gold has been used as a single comparator due to its relatively high resonance integral value (I₀=400 barn). In addition, it is preferable to Co in order to obtain a large epithermal activation in a short irradiation. The method of calculation is simple and rapid and can be done using a small calculator. Epithermal activation is able to overcome the difficulty arising from changing irradiation position as well as increasing the number of determinable elements by eliminating the interference from undesired isotopes which have relatively high thermal cross section values (₀), when reactor neutron flux is used. The coupling of epithermal activation with the monostandard method has the advantage of using a small Cd-cover which overcomes most of the difficulties arising in the relative method with large volume cadmium filters.     

Epithermal neutron activation analysis and its application in the Miniature Neutron Source Reactor

The cadmium and boron ratios from 44 elements, totally 66 nuclides, were determined in the inner and outer irradiation sites of the Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR). China Institute of Atomic Energy. A permanent Cd-shielded epithermal neutron irradiation site has been designed and installed in the outer of the beryllium reflector of this reactor. Elements e.g., I, Br, Sr, Si, Th and U in biological samples, such as foodstuff, water and blood, geological and environmental samples, such as soil, rock, sediment and vegetable leaves were analyzed by BN-shielded epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA), and Au, As, Sb, Th and U by Cd-shielded ENAA. The results show that the detection limits of these elements by ENAA are better by a factor of 1.5–7 than those with conventional NAA.     

The epithermal neutron flux distribution in a nuclear reactor and its effect on epithermal neutron activation analysis

The shape of the epithermal neutron energy distribution has been determined in two irradiation positions of the University of London CONSORT II reactor. The method applied involves cadmium ratio measurements using a series of resonance detectors. Principles of the method and some considerations relative to epithermal neutron activation analysis in connection with the deviation of the epithermal neutron flux distribution from the 1/E law are given.     

The internal comparator method

An internal comparator method is proposed which offers reliable instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) results for samples with an irregular geometry and/or measured at the closest position to the Ge detector. Because the selected internal comparator in the sample analyzed will receive exactly the same thermal neutron flux as the other components, this method can be applied to the INAA of materials suffering from thermal neutron self-shielding. To apply the internal comparator method, the k₀-method must be installed and the analytes, including the internal comparator, should be homogeneously distributed in the test portion.     

Evaluation of imaging plate technique coupled with activation detector as the passive neutron monitor

The spatial distribution of neutrons was measured at the muon science laboratory of KEK by the activation detector method using an imaging plate for the radioactivity measurement. It was confirmed that this method is highly sensitive to detect the average neutron dose of 10 μSv/h. The distribution of thermal and epithermal neutrons was also measured in the experimental room. The cadmium ratio inside the experimental room is one except for the neutron leakage point. The spatial distribution of neutrons inside the concrete shield of KENS was measured by the same method. Aluminum and gold foils were used for the measurement of fast and thermal neutrons, respectively. Two dimensional change of the reaction rate of the ²⁷Al(n,α)²⁴Na reaction shows a good agreement with the results calculated by the Monte Carlo simulation using MARS14 code. Thermal and epithermal neutron flux ratio on the beam axis was measured by the cadmium ratio method. The flux ratios were about 30 and almost constant for every slot except for the surface of the shield, because the cadmium ratio is 2. This method was very useful to measure the activity of many pieces of detector simultaneously without any efficiency and decay correction. Wide dynamic range and high sensitivity are also the merit of this method.