Elemental concentrations in the spinach reference material determined by k0-based INAA

The IAEA-331 spinach material NIST SRM 1570a Spinach Leaves, submitted to an intercomparison run by the IAEA, has been analysed by k₀-based INAA with counting using both low and high energy photon detectors. The results have been compared with (i) the certified values of the NIST SRM 1570a; the agreement is good, taking into account the uncertainties; and (ii) the certified and “consensus” values of the former NIST SRM 1570 Spinach Leaves, their composition in minor and trace-elements are quite similar; however a lower content has been observed for Co, Fe and Sc in the IAEA-331 and for Zn in the SRM 1570. For quality control, the NIST 1573 Tomato Leaves and the NIST 1575 Pine Needles have been analysed using the same conditions as for the IAEA-331. The results agree quite well with the certified and “consensus” values given in the literature.