Abstract
Because of the short half life of Al-28, the determination of aluminum by neutron activation is subject to many inaccuracies: variation of irradiation conditions between sample and standard, uncertainties in timing, and the effects of high and varying count rate, in addition to other sources of error that must be controlled even in work with long-lived nuclides. These errors can all be made smaller than the fundamental limit set by counting statistics, even when that limit is below 0.5 percent. The transfer function from the observed number of net counts to the counting rate at the end of irradiation is modeled as a product of three processes: radioactive decay and extending and nonextending dead time.
The procedure has been applied to the analysis of NBS SRM 1633a Fly Ash. The mean concentration measured was 14.085% Al, with a standard deviation of the mean 0.023% Al for four determinations. The final results showed no significant imprecision beyond counting statistics. The accuracy of the method is shown by the analysis of high-purity single-crystal sapphire.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
B. KRATOCHVIL, J. K. TAYLOR, Anal. Chem., 53 (1981) 924A.
R. L. KOROTEV, paper presented at Int. Symp. Nucl. Anal. Chem., (Halifax 1985); J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 110 (1987) 159.
R. H. FILBY, S. NGUYEN, C. A. GRIMM, G. R. MARKOWSKI, V. EKAMBARAM, T. TANAKA, L. GROSSMANN, Anal. Chem., 57 (1985) 551.
D. A. BECKER, P. D. LaFLEUR, J. Radioanal. Chem., 19 (1974) 149.
R. M. LINDSTROM, S. H. HARRISON, J. M. HARRIS, J. Appl. Phys., 49 (1978) 5903.
R. F. FLEMING, Int. J. Appl. Radiation Isotopes, 33 (1982) 1263.
R. M. LINDSTROM, R. F. FLEMING, in Proc. 3rd Int. Conf. Nucl. Methods in Env. and Energy Res. (Univ. of Mo., Columbia: CONF-771072), 1977, p. 90.
R. M. LINDSTROM, R. F. FLEMING, Proc. 4th Int. Conf. Nucl. Methods in Env. and Energy Res. (Univ. of Mo., Columbia: CONF-800433), 1980, p. 25.
R. VAN SCHANDEVIJL, R. VAN GRIEKEN, J. HOSTE, J. Radioanal. Chem., 9 (1971) 55.
R. F. FLEMING, Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 33 (1979) 234.
Baird-Atomic 043891 graphite powder, stated purity <0.2 ppm Al.
Spex Industries, Model 8000.
Alfa Products, stated purity 99.999%.
A jack was added to the ADC (Nuclear Data model 560) which delivered a logic signal whenever the analyzer was in acquire mode. This signal gated the counter-timer (Tennelec TC534) to record clock time CT and the integral event rate I out of the amplifier.
Nuclear Data, Model 4410.
E. S. GLADNEY, C. E. BURNS, D. R. PERRIN, I. ROELANDTS, T. E. GILLS, Nat. Bur. Stds. Spec. Publ. 260-88, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1984.
R. M. LINDSTROM, unpublished Report of Analysis No. 5210, 1979.
Union Carbide Corporation, Crystal Products Department. Czochralski process, stated purity >99.99%.
G. P. WESTPHAL, J. Radioanal. Chem., 70 (1982) 387.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fleming, R.F., Lindstrom, R.M. Precise determination of aluminum by instrumental neutron activation. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 113, 35–42 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02036046
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02036046