Instrumental neutron-activation determination of phosphorus in biological materials by bremsstrahlung measurement

The determination of phosphorus in biological materials by instrumental neutron-activation analysis by the reaction (31)P (n, lambda)(32)p is described. The bremsstrahlung produced by (32)P is measured in a well-type NaI(T1) detector. The samples are measured in the polyethylene irradiation container with no additional handling between irradiation and measurement. The sources of error have been studied and the proposed method has been applied to the determination of phosphorus in ten internationally cerfified materials.