Radiochemical determination of As,Cr, Mo,Sb and Se in foods

A radiochemical neutron activation analysis procedure was applied to the analysis of foods for As, Cr, Mo, Sb and Se. The elements are retained on an inorganic chromatographic resin of hydrated managanese dioxide while interfering elements are removed. Activities from Br, K, Na and P interferences are reduced by up to six orders of magnitude, and detection limits for food analysis are reduced by factors of 100–2000, compared with those normally found for instrumental neutron activation analysis. Detection limits for the foods analyzed are 0.1–0.3 ng/g for As and Sb and 1–10 ng/g for Cr, Mo and Se. Results are presented for various foods and several National Bureau of Standards Standard Reference Materials.