Analytical applications of delayed and instrumental neutron activation analysis

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry Vol. 299; no. 1; pp. 543 - 549
• Main Authors: Grogan, Kelly P., O’Kelly, Donna J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 2014; Springer
• Subjects: Cerium; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diagnostic Radiology; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Inorganic Chemistry; Magnetic alloys; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear Physics; Physical Chemistry; Technology application; Uranium; Delayed neutron activation analysis; Uranium; Rare earth elements; Instrumental neutron activation analysis
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-013-2773-7

Delayed neutron activation analysis (DNAA) is a rapid and sensitive analytical method for the determination of fissile elements in a variety of samples. The present work describes two different analytical applications of delayed neutron activation for the analysis of biological and environmental samples, respectively. In the first application, DNAA was utilized to determine the natural uranium content in NIST standard reference materials (SRM) 1547 peach leaves and 1573a tomato leaves. Measured uranium mass fractions are comparable to the non-certified values listed on the certificates for these materials. In the second application, delayed neutron activation is coupled with instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for the measurement of rare earth elements (REE) (cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, and ytterbium) in NIST SRM 2586, Trace Elements in Soil Containing Lead from Paint. DNAA was utilized to determine the uranium mass fraction in SRM 2586 for the subsequent application of a correction factor to account for cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium produced as part of the INAA irradiation. Measured and corrected mass fractions for the REEs described here are all within the uncertainty limits provided on the NIST certificate for SRM 2586. These results and the demonstrated sensitivity of the DNAA system establish and validate the use of this method for the determination of REEs and for potential nuclear forensics applications.