Determination of trace elements in biological materials by neutron activation and extraction with TOPO

Solvent extraction with TOPO from 6M hydrochloric acid is proposed as a method for the elimination of interfering activities in neutron activation analysis of biological material for trace elements. By this procedure²⁴Na,⁴²K,³²P,⁸²Br, and⁴⁷Ca are efficiently removed, and a number of trace element activities can be measured by Ge(Li) spectrometry. Chemical yields are determined by re-activation. Data for Cu, Zn, Mo, and Cd in two biological standards are presented.