Radiochemical neutron activation analysis for determination of Au,Ag, Pt and Pd in geological samples

A procedure for separation of Au, Ag, Pt, and Pd in geological samples has been developed. After irradiation, samples were fused with Na₂O₂ and silver was separated by filtering through a PbCl₂ filter in 4M nitric acid solution. Au, Pt and Pd were concentrated with rhodium and thiourea as rhodium sulfide and the separation process of these elements was carried out by a chromatographic method. Au, Pt and Pd were retained on a Dowex-1×8 anion column in 1M HCl. Pd was eluted from the column by using a mixture of 75% HCl acid-25% acetone. Au was eluted by using a mixture of 10% HCl-90% acetone. In the gold fraction, Pt was also determined through the photopeak of¹⁹⁹Au radionuclide (158 keV). The method was simple and rapid.