The application and development of k0-standardization method of neutron activation analysis at Dalat research reactor

In recent years the k₀-NAA method has been applied and developed at the 500 kW Dalat research reactor, which includes (1) the establishment of a PC database of k₀-NAA-related nuclear parameters, e.g., radionuclide produced, half-lives, k₀-factors, Q₀, _r, E_g, etc; the access to the database is able by a k₀-NAA software or by manual; (2) the detection efficiency calibration of gamma spectrometers used in k₀-NAA, (3) the determination of reactor neutron spectrum parameters such as a and f factors and neutron fluxes in the irradiation channels, and (4) the validation of the developed k₀-NAA procedure by analysing some SRMs, namely Coal Fly Ash (NIST-1633b), Bovine Liver (NIST-1577b) and IAEA-Soil7. The analytical results showed the deviations between experimental and certified values were mostly less than 15% with most Z-scores lower than 2. The k₀-NAA procedure established at the Dalat research reactor has been regarded as a reliable standardization method of NAA and as available for practical applications, in particularly for airborne particulate and crude oil samples.