Determination of copper in zinc by proton activation analysis

A method for the determination of copper in zinc by proton activation analysis using the⁶³Cu(p, n)⁶³Zn reaction has been developed.⁶³Zn has to be separated chemically from gallium and copper activities formed out of the zinc matrix and from indium activity formed out of cadnium impurity. Gallium radionuclides are retained on a cation exchanger in chloride medium and the residual activity is extracted in di-isopropyl ether. Copper and indium are subsequently extracted with cupferron in chloroform. The method was applied to BCR reference materials with a copper concentration at the μg.g^?1 level. The detection limit amounts to 0.5 μg.g^?1.