Neutron activation as a routine method for the determination of trace elements in water

By freeze-drying the following elements can be determined in natural water except sea water: Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Eu, Fe, K, La, Mo, Na, Sb, Sc, Se, U, Zn. Some problems may arise with respect to As and Hg. Cu, Cd and Ni can only be determined if present in high concentrations. Separation by adsorption on charcoal in presence of complexing agents gives yields between 75 and 100% for the following elements in sea water: Ag, Au, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Eu, Fe, Hg, La, Mo, Sc, Se, U, Zn (As 67%, Sb 56%). Activation or use of labelled ions and study of exchange give information about mobility of trace elements in suspended matter.     

Compositional Studies of Ancient Copper from Romanian Territories

Ancient copper objects from Romanian territories have been analyzed by neutron activation analysis. A series of elements is determined: Au, Ag, As, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, Ni, Zn, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn. Using mathematical dendograms some classifications and correlation have been established.     

Determination and geochemical significance of trace elements in Iraqi crude oils using instrumental neutron activation analysis

The trace-element composition of crude oil was studied using instrumental neutron activation techniques and a large-volume high-resolution Ge(Li) detector. A total of 29 elements were determined in oils representing the various producing formations of the Iraqi oil fields. These were: Al, Ar, As, Au, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, La, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Re, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, V, W and Zn. The significance of these trace elements in the geochemical investigation of crude oil is discussed.     

Instrumental determination by neutron activation analysis of trace elements in particulate matter separated from riverine and marine coastal waters of the gulf of Gaeta (Central Italy)

This work presents the results obtained on suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected from the rivers Volturno and Garigliano and from the sea stretch between the mouth of the Volturno river and the Sabaudia lake (Central Tyrrhenian Sea). The elements As, Au, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, Hg, La, Lu, Mn, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Ta, Th, W and Yb were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results show that the element concentrations in SPM tend to be higher in surface than in bottom samples. Also, enrichment factors (EF's) were calculated with respect to Sc assumed as representative of alumino-silicates. Higher values of EF's were found for Zn, As, Se, Sb, Hg, W, and Au.Work partly carried out under the contract No. BIO-B322-I (S) of the Commission of the European Communities.     

Determination of trace elements in biological standard kale by neutron activation analysis

Fifteen elements at trace levels have been determined by neutron activation analysis in the biological standard kale distributed byBowen. La, Br, As, Se, Sc, Ag, Zn, Co, Cr, Sb, Eu, Fe, and Zr have been determined by a nondestructive technique using a high-resolution Ge(Li) detector. Two more elements, Au and Hg, have been determined after radiochemical separation. The nondestructive procedure is shown to yield data in generally good agreement with those obtained by destructive techniques. Potential sources of error in the nondestructive technique are discussed.     

Determination of trace elements in Iranian cigarette tobacco by neutron activation analysis

The concentration of 24 trace elements in the tobacco of two different brands of Iranian cigarettes, “Zarrin” and “Oshnoo”, has been measured by neutron activation analysis employing a high-resolution Ge(Li) detector. These elements are: Na, K, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Hf, Au, Hg and Th.     

Instrumental method for the determination of trace elements in water samples by neutron activation analysis

Thermal neutron activation analysis and a large-volume high-resolution Ge(Li) gammaray spectrometer, connected on-line to a DEC PDP 8/L computer, have been used to measure the concentrations of Na, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Ag, Sb, Cs, W and Hg in some Italian subsurface water samples. The instrumental method requires neither a chemical separation technique nor a pre- or post-concentration of the trace elements to be detected. As a consequence, this method eliminates many inherent errors associated with chemical determinations. The technique is sensitive, precise and particularly suitable for routine analysis of many trace elements at both natural and pollution levels in water samples. The interferences due to fast neutron (n, p) and (n, α) reactions are not appreciable, with the only exception of the⁵⁴Fe(n, p)⁵⁴Mn and⁵⁸Ni(n, p)⁵⁸Co reactions. Losses of volatile, elements, e. g. As, Br and Hg, during irradiation proved to be negligible.     

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.     

Elemental content in ground and soluble/instant coffee

The concentration of thirty-four elements in twelve coffee brands has been measured using instrumental neutron activation analysis. The samples investigated included four brands of commercially available ground coffee and eight brands of soluble/instant coffee. The elements measured were Al, As, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Eu, Fe, Gd, Hf, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, Tm, U, V, Yb and Zn. Twenty four elements were found to be below the detection limit in one or more samples. These elements were Ce, Cr, Fe, V, As, Eu, Ba, Dy, Gd, Hf, La, Lu, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, Yb, Tm, and U.     

Determinations de traces dans les semi-conducteurs par activation neutronique

Résumé On décrit la détermination de traces dans le germanium, le silicium et le sélénium. En appliquant des techniques gamma spectrométriques, précédées ou non de séparations chimiques il est possible de doser les éléments suivants dans (1) germanium: As, Cu, Au, Ga, Zn, Hg, Cr, Sn, Sb, Co, In, Ni, Ir, Se, Sc, Ag, Ta, Hf et U; (2) silicium: P, Au, Sb, Ga, Fe, K, Cr, Mo, Sn, As, Co, In, Zn, Cu, W, Ta, Na, Eu, Sm, La, Sc et T1; (3) sélénium: Cl, Br, I, P, S, Te, Na, K, Cr, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Ga, Sc, Ag, Cd, La, W, Au et Tl. Les concentrations et ou limites de détections varient de quelques parties par million à 10⁻³ parties par milliard.     

57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of banded iron formations from eastern India

Samples of the mosses Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi, collected in the summer of 1998, were used to study the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and other toxic elements in the Chelyabinsk Region situated in the South Urals, one of the most heavily polluted industrial areas of the Russian Federation. Samples of natural soils were collected simultaneously with moss at the same 30 sites in order to investigate surface accumulation of heavy metals and to examine the correlation of elements in moss and soil samples in order to separate contributions from atmospheric deposition and from soil minerals. A total of 38 elements (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Au, Th, U) in soil and 33 elements Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Tb, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Au, Th, U) were determined by epithermal neutron activation analysis. The elements Cu, Cd and Pb (in moss samples only) were obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry. VARIMAX rotated principal component analysis was used to identify and characterize different pollution sources and to point out the most polluted areas.     

Neutron activation analysis of an iranian cigarette and its smoke

Non-destructive neutron activation analysis, employing a high-resolution Ge(Li) detector, was applied to determine the concentration of 24 trace elements in the tobacco of the Zarrin cigarette which is commercially made in Iran. These elements are: Na, K, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Hf, Au, Hg and Th. The smokes from the combustion of this tobacco and of the cigarette paper were also analysed for these elements and the percentage transference values were calculated.     

INAA of Some Fossil Samples from Romanian Sites

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to determine elemental contents of Elephas primigenius mammoth mandible bone and Pecten solarium shell fossils discovered in Romania during 1995–1996. In addition, calcareous sedimentary rock surrounding the shell fossil was analyzed. Concentrations of Al, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Hf, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Th, U, V, Zn and the rare earth elements Ce, Eu, La, Lu, Nd, Sm, Tb, Yb were determined. The results are discussed and compared to the available data in the literature for similar fossils.     

Multielement standards in routine reactor neutron activation analysis

The application of multielement standards (MES) in routine neutron activation analysis brings a whole range of advantages. This paper deals with the experience obtained during many years of application of these MES. Nine of these MES contain a total of 50 elements in suitable combinations and concentrations; thus, the determination of most of the common elements by NAA can be carried out simultaneously. This refers to the following elements: Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sb, Te, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, W, Re, Au, Hg, Th and U. For the determination of the remaining elements such as Zr, Ta, Ir etc., single element standards (SES) are used.     

Determination of trace elements of some Egyptian crops by instrumental neutron activation,inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometric and flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used for the determination of Al, Br, Ca, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Ti, Th, V and Zn, ICP-AES for the determination Al, Ag, Ba, Be, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Sc, Sr, Ti, V and Zn and flameless AAS for the determination of Cd, Hg and Pb in egg plant, potatoes, green pepper (Leguminosae), vegetable marrow (Cucurbitaceae), pears, apple (Rosaceae), castor oil plant (Euphorbiaceae), lettuce (compositae), dill, parsley, coriander (Umbelliferae), and in some soil samples collected from Aswan province.     

Resonance neutrons for determination of elemental content of moss,lichen and pine needles in atmospheric deposition monitoring

Experience in the use of epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA) in the monitoring of atmospheric deposition by means of moss, lichens and pine needles is summarized. It is shown that 45 elements (Mg, K, Ca, Al, Cl, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni (using (n,p)-reaction), Zn, Cu, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ag, Sn, Sb, I, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Au, Th and U, as well as Ir and Re in pine needles in the presence of anthropogenic pollution by the nickel mining plant) are reliably determined. Examples of the use of lichens, moss and pine needles as biomonitors of atmospheric deposition in Franz Josef Land the Kola peninsula and in the Tver region are given.     

Analysis of marine biological certified reference material by various non-destructive neutron activation methods

By the use of non-destructive neutron activation analysis (NAA) twenty-four trace (Ag, As, Br, Cd, Ce, Cr, Co, Cu, Eu, Fe, Hf, I, La, Mn, Ni, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, U, V and Zn) and six minor (Ca, Cl, Mg, K, Na and S) elements were determined in a certified marine tissue standard reference material. Four non-destructive methods including thermal, epi-thermal, prompt-gamma ray and delayed neutron counting activation analyses were performed. Results when compared to the certified values showed the reliability of employing these methods in such standards program.     

Multi-element analysis of blood for trace metals by neutron activation analysis

Fourteen elements can be rapidly determined in whole blood by the neutron activation analysis procedure described. Three of these (Ag, Cl, Se) are measured after a 10-s irradiation and eleven others (Al, Ba, Br, Ca, Cu, I, Mg, Mn, Mo, Rb, V) are determined by a 180-s irradiation of a 1-cm³ sample of whole blood after destruction of organic matter and removal of sodium by hydrated antimony pentoxide. A further 13 elements (As, Au, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Hg, K, Na, Ni, Sb, Sc, Zn) are determined after overnight irradiation in the SLOWPOKE reactor.     

Use of INAA and ICP-MS for the assessment of trace element mass fractions in adult and geriatric prostate

The variation with age of the mass fraction of 54 trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Be, Bi, Br, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Er, Eu, Fe, Ga, Gd, Hf, Hg, Ho, Ir, La, Li, Lu, Mn, Mo, Nb, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pr, Pt, Rb, Re, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Ta, Tb, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, Tm, U, Y, Yb, Zn, and Zr) in intact nonhyperplastic prostate of 65 healthy 21–87 year old males was investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis with high resolution spectrometry of long-lived radionuclides and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This work revealed that there is a significant tendency for an increase in Bi, Cd, Co, Fe, Hg, Sc, Sn, Th, U, and Zn (p < 0.0014) mass fraction in normal prostate from age 21 years to the sixth decade. In the sixth to ninth decades the mass fractions of almost all chemical elements investigated in nonhyperplastic prostates were maintained at approximately stable levels. Our finding of correlation between pairs of prostatic chemical element mass fractions indicates that there is a great disturbance of prostatic chemical element relationships with increasing age.     

Multielement analysis of Chinese Biological Standard Reference Material by monostandard instrumental neutron activation analysis

A procedure for monostandard INAA of 21 elements (Hg, As, Br, Cr, Sb, Se, Ba, Zn, Ca, Ce, Co, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, K, La, Rb, Sc, Sr, Ta) in Chinese Biological Standard Reference Material (peach leaves) is described. The accuracy of the procedure was checked by analyzing the U.S. NBS Standard Reference Materials SRM-1571 and SRM-1632a.