Photon and proton activation analysis of iron and steel standards using the internal standard method coupled with the standard addition method

The internal standard method coupled with the standard addition method has been applied to photon activation analysis and proton activation analysis of minor elements and trace impurities in various types of iron and steel samples issued by the Iron and Steel Institute of Japan (ISIJ). Samples and standard addition samples were once dissolved to mix homogeneously, an internal standard and elements to be determined and solidified as a silica-gel to make a similar matrix composition and geometry. Cerium and yttrium were used as an internal standard in photon and proton activation, respectively. In photon activation, 20 MeV electron beam was used for bremsstrahlung irradiation to reduce matrix activity and nuclear interference reactions, and the results were compared with those of 30 MeV irradiation. In proton activation, iron was removed by the MIBK extraction method after dissolving samples to reduce the radioactivity of⁵⁶Co from iron via⁵⁶Fe(p,n)⁵⁶Co reaction. The results of proton and photon activation analysis were in good agreement with the standard values of ISIJ.     

A new internal standard method for activation analysis and its application. Determination of Co,Ni, Rb,Sr in pepperbush by means of photon activation

A new internal standard method for activation analysis has been developed. This method is characterized by that a suitable element present originally in the sample is used as an internal standard and the comparative standard is prepared by applying the standard addition method to the duplicated sample. When a sample under examination contains W_ag of trace element A to be determined together with a known amount of element B which is usable as an internal standard, and when the comparative standard is prepared by adding W _a ^* g of accurately known small amount of the element A to the duplicated sample, even if the sample and comparative standard are irradiated separately by particles with different fluxes, W_a can be determined, easily by using the following equation: W_a=W _a ^* /[(A _R ^* /A_R)-1] Where A_R and A _R ^* are counting ratios of gamma-rays emitted by two radioactive nuclides produced from the element A and B in the sample and comparative standard, respectively. Neither correction of the inhomogeneities of flux between the sample and comparative standard, nor that of, the self-shielding effects are necessary for the present method. The usefulness of the method was examined through the determination of Co, Ni, Rb and Sr in pepperbush by means of photon activation, and the precision and accuracy of the method were proved to be valid.