Determination of trace elements in fish by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis, INAA, was utilized for the determination of Al, Au, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sc, V and W in 12 Tilapia Nilotica samples collected from the Aswan High Dam Lake following the destructive techniques.     

Determination of trace elements in carbonates by instrumental neutron activation analysis

A systematic non-destructive determination of eighteen trace elements (F, Na, Cl, Sc, Mn, Zn, Br, Sr, I, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Th and U) in carbonate samples by thermal neutron activation analysis was developed. Three 0.2–0.5g samples were irradiated for 15 sec (in the case of determination of F), for 3 min (in the case of Na, Cl, Mn, Sr and I) and for 60 hrs (in the case of Sc, Zn, Br, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Th and U) in the TRIGA MARK II Reactor at a thermal neutron flux of 5·10¹¹ n·cm⁻²·sec⁻¹ (15 sec and 3 min irradiation) and 1.5·10¹²n·cm⁻²·sec⁻¹ (60 hrs irradiation), respectively. According to the half life of the nuclides formed, the activities were measured with a Ge(Li) spectrometer as follows,²⁰F∶15 sec counting after 20–25 sec cooling,²⁴Na,³⁸Cl,⁵⁶Mn,^87mSr and¹²⁸I∶600 sec couting after 30–120 min cooling,⁸²Br,¹⁴⁰La,¹⁵³Sm,¹⁷⁵Yb and²³⁹Np (daughter of²³⁹U)∶3000 sec counting after 1 week cooling,⁴⁶Sc,⁶⁵Zn,¹³¹Ba,¹⁴¹Ce,¹⁵²Eu,¹⁶⁰Tb and²³³Pa (daughter of²³³Th)∶5000 sec counting after 1 month cooling. The errors due to the fluctuation of the neutron flux and the counting geometry were minimized by the use of calcium determined previously with EDTA-titration as an internal standard. The interferences from²⁴Mg(n, p)²⁴Na and²³⁵U(n, fission) reactions were corrected by the activities produced by the reactions in unit weight of magnesium and uranium, and their concentrations in samples measured experimentally. The data of Na, Mn, Zn and Sr were compared with the results obtained by atomic absorption analysis.     

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 Nigerian kola-nuts by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The trace elements content of Cola acuminata and three varieties of Cola nitida have been determined using neutron activation analysis. The samples have been irradiated at the Joint Universities Research Reactor, Risley, England for 7^1/2 hours in a neutron flux of 2.5·10¹² n·cm^–2s^–1 and analysed using high resolution lithium drifted germanium detector coupled to a Canberra 35 microprocessor as a 4096 channel gamma spectrometer. The elements: Na, K, Br, W, Fe, Cs, Co, Zn, and Sc were detected.     

Determination of trace elements in Egyptian cane sugar by neutron activation analysis

Major, minor, trace and ultratrace concentrations of Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Be, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hf, K, La, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Th, Ti, U, V, W and Zn in crude juice, principal juice, sirup juice (produced during the successive stages of sugar industry), sugar cane plant, molasses, deposits (produced as a result of the addition of Ca(OH)₂ and superphosphate and passage of SO₂ through juice), A-and B-sugar and soil samples have been determined by destructive and nondestructive instrumental neutron activation (INAA), atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometric (ICP-AES) analyses. The results obtained by the methods applied are in excellent agreement. Concentrations of the elements are different. Variations in element concentrations in cance plants and in crude juice may be attributed to composition changes or different botanical structures; in mixed juice, sirup, molasse and deposits they may be due to chemical treatments or corrosion effects on containers, whereas in soil samples to geochemical and biogeochemical fractionation as a result of adsorption and uptake of trace elements by plants from surrounding soil solutions.     

Determination of trace elements in Chinese medicinal plants by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Roots of Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica sinensis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Codonopsis pilosula, which were often used as herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, were analyzed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). The samples were collected in Gansu, northwest of China and irradiated at the 15 MW heavy water reactor in China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE). The induced activities were counted by a well calibrated low background γ-spectrometer equipped with a high efficiency coaxial high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The concentrations of eighteen trace elements (Ca, Fe, Na, Zn, Ba, Rb, Ce, Cr, La, Co, Th, Cs, Sb, Sc, Sm, Hf, Eu and Tb) in the herbs were determined. Possible links between pharmacological action of the herbs and content of some elements were also discussed in this paper. The measured results were compared with the reported values in literature.     

Determination of toxic and trace elements in algae by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been applied in the determination of toxic and other trace elements in a set of three algae materials provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency, with the aim of environmental preservation through enhanced applications of nuclear analytical techniques. The quality of the analysis method has been evaluated by analyzing a number of biological standard reference materials. By adding mineral nutrients, the cultivation of algae for metals is enhanced, in particular, selected toxic heavy metals such as As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb. It is believed that the level of elemental concentration in algae samples are dependent on environmental conditions due to its biochemical properties. Therefore, algae materials may be useful as an indicator or controller of environmental water pollution.     

Determination of trace elements in sugar cane refuse by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Multielemental instrumental neutron activation analysis has been utilized for the determination of micro, trace and ultratrace amounts of Al, As, Au, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, F, Fe, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Sc, V and W in sugar cane refuses of Armant, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Deshna and Naga Hammady Factories. The element concentrations are below the safety baseline levels. Variations of results may be related to different botanic structures, different compositions of sugar cane plants or ecologic changes in soil. The method is accurate and precise. The relative errors are in the range of 0.3–12.3%.     

Determination of trace elements in carbonate reference samples by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Twenty elements (Sm, U, As, Sb, La, Ce, Yb, Th, Cr, Eu, Hf, Ba, Cs, Tb, Sc, Rb, Fe, Zn, Ta, Co) have been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in GSJ/AIST carbonate reference samples, JCp-1 (Coral) and JCt-1 (Giant Clam), together with JLk-1 (Lake Sediment), JDo-1 (Dolomite) and JLs-1 (Limestone) reference samples.     

Determination of trace elements in atmospheric wet precipitation by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) methods have been developed for the simultaneous determination of multielement concentrations in both particulate and soluble fractions of atmospheric wet precipitation (AWP). Samples of AWP collected across Canada by Canadian Network for Sampling Precipitation (CANSAP) have been analyzed. The INAA method involves four sequential irradiations and counting after five different decay periods for measuring Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Dy, Fe, Hf, Hg, I, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Ti V and Zn. Precision and accuracy of the INAA methods have been evaluated, and detection limits have been calculated.     

Determination of trace elements in biological materials by instrumental epithermal neutron activation analysis

The use of reactor epithermal neutrons in instrumental activation analysis is described for the determination of trace elements via long-lived isotopes. A boron carbide filter is used. Results of analyses of human erythrocytes, plasma, urine and some biological reference materials are given to demonstrate the applicability of the method to biological samples. Bromine, iron, cesium, rubidium, selenium and zinc and cobalt are determined. The method provides accuracy and reliability similar to conventional thermal neutron activation but is faster. Limits of detection attainable with the two techniques are compared.     

Determination of lanthanides and other trace elements in ferns by instrumental neutron activation analysis

About 70 kinds of fem samples have been analyzed by means of neutron activation analysis in order to deduce characteristics and mechanisms of accumulation of rare earth elements. Accumulator species for scandium and lanthanides have been newly found based on the analysis. Correlations among barium, hafnium, and lanthanides indicate that the fems accumulating barium and hafnium also showed high concentrations of lanthanides. Remarkable accumulation of lanthanides in diversifying genera suggests that lanthanides contribute to making those species diverse.     

Characterization of trace elements in medicinal herbs by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Medicinal herbs are often used as alternative medicines for healing and controlling some diseases in the world. This study focuses on the content of heavy and trace elements of some widely consumed herbs in Libya. Nine most popular herbs were analyzed by k ₀-instrumental neutron activation analysis. All the samples, SRM and flux monitors were irradiated for 7 and 10 hours under thermal neutron flux of 1.3·10¹³ cm⁻²·s⁻¹ at Tajoura nuclear reactor. In total, 33 elements were analyzed in different herbs. The variations in the concentration of the elements are attributed to soil composition and the climate in which the plant grows. The study showed that the toxic elements found in the samples were below the levels prescribed by health regulations. The precision and the accuracy of the results were evaluated by analyzing the reference materials Pine Needles SRM 1575 and Citrus Leaves SRM1572.     

Determination of trace elements in total particulate matter of cigarette smoke by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Trace elements play an important role in the metabolism of the human body. Some of the trace elements are essential, whereas others are toxic and even carcinogenic. Cigarette smoke contains many of these hazardous trace elements. Tobacco samples have been analyzed by the authors for their trace element contents and the results have been reported earlier. This paper presents results on the trace element content analyzed in cigarette smoke using an automatic smoking machine developed in this laboratory to simulate actual smoking pattern. The trace element levels in the total particulate matter samples of the cigarette smoke collected on filter papers were measured and compared with those of cigarette smoke condensate reported in the literature. Both methods of collection give comparable results.     

Determination of elements in bovine tissues by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was carried out to obtain the normal concentration of trace elements in bovine tissues (heart, liver, kidney, spleen, lymph nodes) and serum. Concentrations of 17 elements were determined. In this paper, concentrations of Al, Br, Cs, In and Rb are given and correlations of concentrations are discussed between Cl and Br and between K and Cs or Rb. Significant positive correlations have been found between Cl and Br concentrations in all tissues, between K and Cs concentrations in tissues excluding kidney, and between K and Rb concentrations in tissues excluding liver.     

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 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

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 hair of some local population in Iran by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Scalp hair samples from 100 individual residents in Isfahan, Iran were analyzed for Al, Br, Ca, Cu, Hg, I, K, Mg, Mn, Na, S, V, and Zn by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results of this investigation show that the ranges of the concentration of trace elements in hair are somewhat wide, for example Mg has the range of 20 to 209 ppm for 100 subjects. The results are compared with the data reported in the literatures. A substantive correspondence between the present data and literature values from different countries, have been observed but they did not show any regular dependence. The level of iodine is significantly different from other countries and is strongly linked to local environmental factors. The correlation coefficient for Al–V, Mn–Al, Ca–Mg, and V–Mg pairs was 0.823, 0.821, 0.830 and 0.746, respectively.     

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.