Fluorine analysis of standard materials by short-time activation analysis using20F

Phosphorus at trace levels alters the properties of metals and alloys. Its determination was investigated by radiochemical neutron activation analysis. Separation by solvent extraction or by evolution as P⁰ showed to be neither selective nor quantitative in presence of a metallic matrix. Therefore, a new method of separation by reduction to phosphorus hydride followed by liquid scintillation counting was investigated. This method is quantitative in the case of non-radioactive iron doped with radioactive phosphorus. At present, the separation is not quantitative for irradiated iron samples, owing probably to hot atom or radiation effects. A detection limit of 0.002 g is expected.Presented at the MTAA-8 Conference, September 16–20, 1991, Vienna, Austria.