Derivative techniques in activation analysis

Derivative activation analysis is a technique in which the element or chemical entity to be determined is either replaced or complexed in a preirradiation chemical procedure with another element for which neutron activation analysis has an intrinsically higher sensitivity. Although the technique has many potential applications, the literature of the field is very limited. Examples of recent applications in our laboratory include: determination of P in natural waters, biological reference standards, brain tissue, rocks and coal; determination of Ni in a stony meteorite; determination of T1 in solutions; and speciation of oxygen (e.g., hydroxyl and carbonyl moieties) in coal via 14 MeV neutron activation.