Feasibility studies of neutron activation analysis with kilogram-size samples

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) can now directly be applied to samples with masses in the kilogram range. It enables the analysis of material which is considered to be not representative at the scale of the traditional analytical portion, but representative at much larger scale. Large sample INAA (LS-INAA) circumpasses various problems associated with sample-size reduction and homogenization. Examples of feasibility studies are given as on construction waste, contaminated soil, harbour sediment and recyclable material. Also the economics of this method of analysis is discussed. Received: 30 October 1996 / Revised: 3 April 1997 / Accepted: 16 April 1997