Destructive and nondestructive analysis of some elements in tissue and environmental samples by thermal neutron activation analysis technique

A rapid and selective method has been developed and applied for determining elements present in tissue and environmental samples by both destructive and nondestructive activation analysis. Nondestructive activation analysis involves the irradiation of the sample and standard of the elements such as Mn, Na, and K with thermal neutrons from²⁵²Cf neutron source followed by radioassay of the (n,r) products on a HPGe detector coupled to a PC-based MCA. Elements are determined by irradiating the samples in the thermal neutron flux of the CIRUS reactor and radiochemically separating the isotopes of interest using substoichiometric extraction and precipitation technique. The statistical evaluation of the method with respect to accuracy and precision of the method and its sensitivity are discussed.