Instrumental neutron activation analysis of geological and pedological samples. Further investigation of epithermal neutron activation analysis using monostandard method

A comparative study is presented on neutron activation analysis of rock and soil samples using whole reactor neutron spectrum and epithermal neutrons with both relative and monostandard procedures. The latter procedure used with epithermal neutron activation analysis of soil samples necessitated the use of the “effective resonance integrals” which were determined experimentally. The incorporation of the β factor, representing deviation of reactor epithermal neutron flux from 1/E law, is developed in the present work. The main criteria for the choice of one or more of the procedures studied for a given purpose are also indicated. Analysis of 15 trace elements, Ca and Fe in the standard Japanese granite JC-1 using monostandard epithermal neutron activation gave results in good agreement with the average literature values. This paper is dedicated to the 80th birthday of Professor Dr. Robert Klement, University of Munich.