Determination of trace element levels in polyethylene by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Elements Al, As, Au, Br, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, La, Mn, Mo, Na, Sb, Sc, Sm, V, and Zn were determined by INAA in several brands and batches of high pressure polyethylene (PE) Bralen (Slovnaft Bratislava, Czechoslovakia). A large scatter of trace element contents was found in both granules and foils, indicating an inhomogeneous distribution for the majority of the above mentioned elements present as impurities in PE. Larger amounts of the elements Al, Mn, and Sb were found in foils than in granules. Blank values resulting from using of PE Bralen as a canning material for INAA were compared to trace element concentration in human hair samples, too.     

Determination of the trace element levels in atmospheric pollutants by neutron activation analysis

An investigation of the potentials of neutron activation analysis for the routine analysis of trace elements present in atmospheric pollutants is discussed. Various techniques including sequential air sampling, multiple neutron irradiation, high resolution γ-ray spectrometry, chemical isolation, high flux neutron irradiation and X-ray spectrometry have been employed to determine the levels of Pb, Al, V, I, Cl, Mn, Cu, Br, Na, La, Mo, Au, Cr, Fe, Ni, Se, Zn, Ag and Co in atmospheric pollutants. The results of the analysis of nearly two hundred samples collected from the Buffalo New York area during 1968–1969 are reported. Presented at the Fourth Annual Conference on Trace Substances in Environmental Health, University of Missouri, Columbia Missouri, USA (June, 1970).     

Determination of magnesium at trace levels by isotope dilution

A mass spectrometric method for the isotopic analysis of magnesium and its determination at low concentrations in the presence of an excess of other elements is described. The lowest level at which magnesium was determined was 1 ppm with a precision and error +/- 1%.     

Determination of trace quantities of tin by neutron activation analysis

A neutron activation method of general applicability has been developed for determining traces of tin in a variety of samples. The samples and comparative standards, sealed into ampoules, are irradiated intermittently for 3 days at a neutron flux of ca, 3 · 10¹¹ n/cm²/sec, followed by carrier radiochemical separations mainly consisting of solvent extraction steps. As little as 0.1 μg Sn can be easily determined by comparing the induced β-activity of ¹²¹Sn (27.5 h) with that of a standard, The method is rapid and has a reasonably high chemical yield of about 50%. Results are quoted for the tin contents of a number of materials including silicate rocks, sea waters, biological materials and steels.     

Determination of trace impurities in palladium by neutron activation analysis

Trace amounts of Ir, Au, Ag, Pt, Zn, Mn, and Cu were determined in high purity palladium by destructive and instrumental neutron activation analysis (NAA). The latter version of NAA was employed for the determination of Ir, Au and Ag. Special attention was paid to a new non-destructive method for the determination of silver traces in palladium. The results obtained by both versions of NAA are critically discussed and compared.     

Determination of trace impurities in tin by neutron activation analysis

Two methods are described to determine indium and managenese in high-purity tin. In the first method indium and manganese are separated from the tin and antimony matrix activities on Dowex 1X8 anion exchanger. Tin and antimony are adsorbed in 10M HF while indium and manganese are eluted. In the second method the incident γ-ray intensity due to the tin matrix is reduced by placing a lead absorber between the sample and the detector. The reproducibility and the sensitivity of both methods are of the order of 10 ppb for manganese and of 1 ppb for indium for 1 g samples and a neutron flux of 10¹¹ n·cm⁻²·sec⁻¹. Aspirant of the N. F. W. O.     

Determination of trace elements in water by non-destructive neutron activation

A systematic study was undertaken in order to find out which of the most relevant elements can be determined in water under normal conditions by non-destructive neutron activation simultaneously using a suitable monostandard method. Standardized water samples as well as natural water of different kind were used, brought to dryness by freeze-drying and irradiated in quartz at a neutron flux of 10¹⁴ cm⁻² s⁻¹ for 1 day. The trace element content in quartz ampoules of different origin was determined separately. The following elements are discussed in detail including possible interferences: As, Au, Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Eu, Fe, Hg, K, La, Mo, Na, Ni, Sb, Sc, Se, U, Zn. Presented at the Euroanalysis II Conference, Budapest, 25–30. Aug. 1975.     

Determination of trace impurities in platinum by neutron activation analysis

Determination of trace impurities in platinum by neutron activation analysis was carried ont by combining the advantages of ion exchange chromatography and Ge(Li spectrometry. Owing to the development of a new ion exchange separation scheme which assures high decontamination factors with respect to matrix activities and practically quantitative yields, ppm and sub ppm amounts of Au, Cu, Ir, K, La, Mn, Pd and Zn were determined in 10 mg samples of pure platinum metal. No determinations of the chemical yield were necessary. Several other elements could be determined, if present, without essentially changing the procedure.     

Determination of trace elements in food by neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) methods have been developed for the determination of major, minor and trace elements in duplicate diets and individual food items. These include a cyclic instrumental NAA (CINAA) method for measuring Se content through its short-lived nuclide^77mSe; epithermal INAA (EINAA) for I and As; conventional INAA for Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sn and Zn; combination of EINAA and INAA for Al; radiochemical NAA (RNAA) for As, Au, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mo, Sb, Se and Zn; and preconcentration NAA (PNAA) for U and Th. Accuracy of measurements have been evaluated by analyzing a number of biological and diet reference materials. Multielement concentrations of diets and foods have been measured by these methods.     

Determination of trace elements in petroleum by neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and Ge(Li) spectrometry have been used to determine Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Sb, Eu, Au, Hg, and U in crude petroleum. The technique involves no chemical separations and no pre-concentration of the samples by ashing is necessary, thus avoiding contamination or loss of volatile elements. The estimated detection limits in ppb for the elements are Sc (0.1), Cr (0.16), Fe (400.0), Co (0.6), Ni (1.1), Zn (200.0), As (6.0), Se (23.0), Sb (1.0), Eu (0.58), Au (0.11), Hg (4.3), U (1.5). Precision values ranged from 0.1% to 15% (relative standard deviation). Interferences in the Co and Fe determinations due to fast neutron reactions (n, p) and (n, α) on Ni isotopes are small and are easily corrected. Losses of As, Se, and Hg due to escape of volatile gases during irradiation are negligible     

Determination of trace impurities in tin by neutron activation analysis

Arsenic, selenium and antimony were determined in four different tin samples. After distillation from HBr?H₂SO₄ medium arsenic and selenium were precipitated with thioacetamide, and antimony was subsequently separated by deposition on iron powder. The separated samples were counted on a high-resolution Ge(Li) γ-spectrometer. The sensitivity of the method is highly satisfactory.     

Determination of trace impurities in tin by neutron activation analysis

A method was developed for the determination of 15 trace elements in tin. High-purity tin samples (99.9999% and 99.999%) as well as tin of technical quality were analysed. Reactor neutron activation of the tin samples was followed by distillation of the matrix activities from a HBr−H₂SO₄ medium and Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometry of the distillation residue. The sensitivity of the method is generally high. For the high-purity samples the detection limits vary from 0.02 ppb (scandium) to 200 ppb (iron) for irradiation of 1 g of tin for 1 week at a thermal flux of 5·10¹²n·cm⁻². ·sec⁻¹. To decontaminate the surface of the tin samples, pre- and post-irradiation etching procedures were applied. The efficiency of these etching techniques was studied.     

Determination of trace elements in petroleum by neutron activation analysis

Using thermal neutron activation and a large-volume high-resolution Ge(Li) γ-ray spectrometer, the feasibility of the determination of the concentrations of Na, S, Cl, K, Ca, V, Mn, Cu, Ga, and Br in crude oils has been demonstrated. This instrumental method, which requires neither a chemical separation technique nor pre-concentration or post-concentration of trace elements by ashing, eliminates many inherent errors associated with chemical determination. The method is sensitive, precise and suitable for routine analysis. Fast neutron (n, p) and (n, α) reactions do not appreciably interfere and where necessary corrections may be applied. Loss of volatile elements, e.g. chlorine and bromine, due to recoil during irradiation is negligible.     

Determination of trace elements in various materials by activation analysis

Recent works on the trace analysis of various materials by activation analysis are summarized. INAA and IPAA are applied for the multielement determination of various standard reference materials and electronic materials. As an example, the analytical results of pepperbush and fluoride glass are shown. In activation analysis using chemical separation, the destructive neutron activation analysis coupled with isotope addition technique is presented and applied to the determination of trace impurities in indium phosphide. Selective substoichiometry and substoichiometric separagtions of some elements are also introduced.     

Determination of oxygen in rock samples by fast-neutron activation

For the fast and nondestructive determination of oxygen content in rock samples the 14-MeV neutron activation analysis was applied. To transfer the samples between the irradiation and measuring sites a fast pneumatic system has been developed. Using powder samples of 2.5 g and measuring times of 4 min, the reproducibility of the determination is ±2%.     

Determination of trace elements of egyptian crops by neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis, NAA, a high resolution Ge(Li) gamma ray spectrometer was used to determine the concentration of Al, As, Au, Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, La, Mn, Mo, Sb, Se, W, and Zn in Cumin, coriander, carrots, and Daucus carrota (Umbelliferae Family), alfalfa, Kidney bean, Phaseolus sativus, Phaseolus vulgaris, bean, lenses, and fenugreek (Legumirosae Family). Multielement determination technique on destructive and nondestructive samples was followed. This method is simple, precise and sensitive to 17 trace elements.     

Determination of trace elements of Egyptian crops by neutron activation analysis

Multielemental neutron activation analysis was used for the determination of Al, As, Au, Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, La, Mn, Mo, Sb, Se, W and Zn in African tea, and lady's fingers (Malvaceae Family), ginger (Zingiperaceae Family), canella bark (Laureceae Family), black pepper (Piperaceae Family), cucumber seeds and vegetable marrow seeds (Cucurbitaceae Family), tomatos seed (Solanaceae Family), safflower seeds (Compositae Family), jew's mallow seeds (Tiliaceae Family) and sesame (Pedaliaceae Family). Trace elements determination was made to the analysis of destructive (using super pure nitric acid and adsorbing the metal-APDC and metal-Dz complexes on activated charcoal) and nondestructive (dry seeds) samples. The method is simple, precise and sensitive for the determination of microamounts of the elements (ppm to ppb).     

Determination of trace elements in cardiotonic drugs by neutron activation analysis

Potassium may be intimately involved to the action of cardiac glycosides. Chlorine and potassium also act as diuretics. The elements chlorine, manganese, potassium and sodium are determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in all the cardiotonic drugs which are currently used in Greece. All the available pharmaceutical forms of these drugs were analysed (pills, injections, water solutions). It has been found that there is a wide variation among the different values for managanese, sodium and chlorine while for potassium values are relatively constant. Results are discussed from the pharmacological point of view. It is proposed to study the role of manganese in cardiotonic drugs as well as the effect of potassium addition in oral pharmaceutical form of cardiotonic drugs in decreasing the toxicity of cardiac glycosides.     

Determination of trace fluorine in biological materials by photonuclear activation analysis

Summary By using the photonuclear activation technique, fluorine has been determined in biological materials. After alkali fusion, fluorine is adsorbed on an anion exchange resin. The irradiated resin sample is soaked and stirred in 5N hydrochloric acid solution. After filtering, fluorine-18 resulting from the (, n) reaction was extracted with 0.2 % dimethyldichlorosilane in xylene. The fluorine-18 0.51 MeV annihilation peak in an aliquot of the organic phase was measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. The precision of this method calculated from replicate analyses of standard specimen is ±11 % and sensitivity is estimated as 0.01g for this element.

---

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe der photonuklearen Aktivierung wurde Fluor in biologischem Material bestimmt. Nach der Alkalischmelze wird das Fluor an einem Anionenaustauscher adsorbiert. Das bestrahlte Harz wird in5-n Salzsäure eingerührt und zum Quellen gebracht. Nach dem Abfiltrieren wird das aus der, n-Reaktion stammende¹⁸F mit einer 0,2% igen Lösung von Dimethyl-dichlorsilan in Xylol extrahiert. In einem aliquoten Anteil der organischen Phase wird es gammaspektrometrisch gemessen. Die Genauigkeit des Verfahrens wurde durch wiederholte Analysen von Standardproben ermittelt und beträgt ±11%. Die Empfindlichkeit wurde zu 0,01g geschätzt.