Internal standard method utilized for 14 MeV neutron induced characteristic X-ray emission analysis

The instrumental neutron activation analysis technique (INAA) was used for homogeneity tests and certification analyses of the coal fly ash reference material ECO prepared at the Institute of Radioecology and Applied Nuclear Techniques (IRANT), Koice, Czechoslovakia. The relative standard deviations due to inhomogeneity were found to be <3% for 19 elements including for sample weights about 50 mg. The results of determination of the elements Al, As, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hf, In, K, La, Mn, Mo, Na, Nd, Ni, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sr, Ta, Th, Ti, U, V, W, and Zn, were compared with the IRANT certified or information values. Inference was made on the reliability of the IRANT specified values for the element contents.