Determination of cadmium in soils by neutron-activation analysis

A radiochemical neutron-activation method for the determination of cadmium in soils is presented. The irradiation is carried out in a neutron flux with a high epithermal component, taking advantage of the high ratio of the resonance-activation integral to the thermal-neutron cross-section for (114)Cd to obtain an increased sensitivity. The irradiated samples are decomposed with hydrofluoric acid-nitric acid and cadmium is separated by anion-exchange. Zinc may also be determined. There is good agreement with results obtained by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry based on solvent extraction separation of cadmium.