Preface

Since the last century, physicists have known that most of the mass of an atom was located in the nucleus at its center and that this central core contained protons. Until 1932, the atom was believed to be composed of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by negatively charged electrons. Atomic theory from James Chadwick's discovery of the neutron was cen‐ tral to the extraordinary developments in atomic physics that occurred in the first half of the twentieth century. The neutron was exploited to create new radioactive elements by neutron irradiation and the fission of uranium atoms.

Hevesy and H. Levis were the first to report on a new method of activation analysis. Today, the concept of neutron activation analysis (NAA) has developed into a research reactor char‐ acterized with high neutron fluxes and gamma ray spectrometers with high resolving power HP(Ge) and NaI(Tl) detectors coupled to full-featured multichannel analyzer-based ad‐ vanced digital signal processing techniques. The complete spectroscopy workstation offers the highest quality acquisition and analysis. The use of NAA by researchers has increased steadily, and as a result, this technique remains one of the most common activities in 240 existing nuclear research reactors worldwide. In October 2017, the IAEA launched the first e-learning course dedicated to a research reactor-based technique and made it available to Member States through the IAEA Open Learning Management System.

This book highlights the advanced technologies and applications of NAA. It discusses the latest developments influencing the performance and utility of different NAA techniques across wide areas of applications: nuclear technology, industry, medicine, etc. with accurate analytical results. The overall goal of the book is to promote innovation and development of NAA techniques, technologies, and nuclear culture by presenting high-quality chapters with numerous results at both national and international levels. Since the k0-NAA method was launched by A. Simonits and F. De Corte, many laboratories worldwide have implemented and applied this technique.

The book is intended to provide guidance in practical aspects of operating and applying lab‐ oratory NAA and reviews of the recent applications and associated technologies. It provides further insight into the method of analyzing samples using INAA, k0-NAA, and LS-NAA, which are sensitive analytical techniques useful for performing both qualitative and quanti‐ tative analyses.

It is hoped that the book will serve as a source for graduate and postgraduate students in nuclear sciences and applications and nuclear analytical techniques, as well as teachers and researchers who have an overlapping interest in recent and projected needs of research and development. The neutron activation system was designed for ITER to evaluate integrated fusion power and develop an integrated approach to routine automation of NAA, and has

resulted in interesting applications from several fields of science: medicine, clinical investi‐ gations, biology, geochemistry, soil contamination, waste management, diet, lifestyle and health, cosmology, archeology, forensic science, etc.

Thanks are due to Mr. Merzak Remki, manager at the Algerian Atomic Energy Commission COMENA. I am pleased to highlight his support promoting research and development. I am also grateful to IntechOpen book manager Ms. Iva Lipović for her patience and assis‐

Finally, I would like to thank my husband Alghem Abdeldjalil for his help and encourage‐

AQ: Please check if edits to the sentence beginning "Concentrations of trace levels..." retain

**Dr. Lylia Alghem Hamidatou**

Djelfa, Algeria

Preface IX

Nuclear Research Centre of Birine

Director of Nuclear Techniques and Applications Division

ment during all my professional career and the preparation and edition of this book.

tance during the different edition phases of this book.

the intended sense.

The chapters cover the basis of the NAA method, which includes principles and properties, the use of a Monte Carlo computational model for many case studies, scientific achieve‐ ments, and potential applications of NAA performed at the author's laboratory and at nucle‐ ar facilities. Readers should refer to the work discussed in all chapters.

The book is organized into two sections, which cover a variety of very important topics. The first section contains four chapters on different applications of NAA in several fields of re‐ search. The first chapter by Lylia Hamidatou presents an overview of NAA methods, in‐ cluding innovative worldwide applications. In the second chapter, Maitreyee Nandy highlights the application of neutron activation and subsequent gamma spectrometric stud‐ ies in the fields of geology and medicine.

Different types of samples such as uranium ores, phosphate rocks, cement, beach rocks, an‐ cient lake Copais samples, and many other kinds of geological matrix were used for the de‐ termination of major, trace, ultra-trace, and rare earth elements using neutron activation followed by high-resolution gamma spectrometric studies. The author also discusses the dif‐ ferent applications of NAA in medicine. Concentrations of trace levels of Ca, Cu, Co, I, Mg, Se, Fe, Zn, Hg, Ba, and Cr in human breast cancer, skin cancer, and colorectal cancer tissues and in the dysfunction and malignancy of the thyroid gland were determined using the NAA method.

Chapter 3 by Guillermo Parrado, David Alonso, Julián Orozco, Mary Peña, Andrés Porras, Martha Guzmán, Nelson Acero, and Mauricio López reports on the effort of a Colombian NAA laboratory and potential applications and developments using the nuclear research reactor IAN-R1. The Colombian laboratory serves as a good example, not only for novice labs, but also for the more experienced ones. Lessons have been learned by exploiting these young scientists and engaging them meaningfully in nuclear research; this, in turn, creates a strong sense of ownership of processes as well as outcomes. Pham Ngoc Son and Bach Nhu Nguyen (Chapter 4) discuss the results obtained by the MNCP code to evaluate the correc‐ tion factors for neutron activation foils.

The second section of the book is dedicated to neutron activation systems and technologies. Chapter 5 by Vitaly Krasilnikov, Mun Seong Cheon, and Luciano Bertalot provides a fasci‐ nating presentation of the neutron activation system (NAS), which was designed for ITER Tokamak. The main goal of the ITER NAS was to evaluate the total plasma neutron produc‐ tion rate. This system is under development by the Korean Domestic Agency of ITER.

Chapter 6 by Maria Angela de B. C. Menezes and Radojko Jaćimović provides an overview of the establishment of the methodology to analyze up to 5 g samples by k0-instrumental NAA at CDTN, Brazil.

The editor wishes to thank all the authors for their high-level and valuable chapters. I would like to pay tribute to prominent scientists Profs. Nicolas Spirou and Andras Simonits, widely known for their research in the field of nuclear physics, who passed away last year. I would also like to thank Prof. G. Kennedy for his help concerning the drafting of several parts in the first chapter.

Thanks are due to Mr. Merzak Remki, manager at the Algerian Atomic Energy Commission COMENA. I am pleased to highlight his support promoting research and development.

resulted in interesting applications from several fields of science: medicine, clinical investi‐ gations, biology, geochemistry, soil contamination, waste management, diet, lifestyle and

The chapters cover the basis of the NAA method, which includes principles and properties, the use of a Monte Carlo computational model for many case studies, scientific achieve‐ ments, and potential applications of NAA performed at the author's laboratory and at nucle‐

The book is organized into two sections, which cover a variety of very important topics. The first section contains four chapters on different applications of NAA in several fields of re‐ search. The first chapter by Lylia Hamidatou presents an overview of NAA methods, in‐ cluding innovative worldwide applications. In the second chapter, Maitreyee Nandy highlights the application of neutron activation and subsequent gamma spectrometric stud‐

Different types of samples such as uranium ores, phosphate rocks, cement, beach rocks, an‐ cient lake Copais samples, and many other kinds of geological matrix were used for the de‐ termination of major, trace, ultra-trace, and rare earth elements using neutron activation followed by high-resolution gamma spectrometric studies. The author also discusses the dif‐ ferent applications of NAA in medicine. Concentrations of trace levels of Ca, Cu, Co, I, Mg, Se, Fe, Zn, Hg, Ba, and Cr in human breast cancer, skin cancer, and colorectal cancer tissues and in the dysfunction and malignancy of the thyroid gland were determined using the

Chapter 3 by Guillermo Parrado, David Alonso, Julián Orozco, Mary Peña, Andrés Porras, Martha Guzmán, Nelson Acero, and Mauricio López reports on the effort of a Colombian NAA laboratory and potential applications and developments using the nuclear research reactor IAN-R1. The Colombian laboratory serves as a good example, not only for novice labs, but also for the more experienced ones. Lessons have been learned by exploiting these young scientists and engaging them meaningfully in nuclear research; this, in turn, creates a strong sense of ownership of processes as well as outcomes. Pham Ngoc Son and Bach Nhu Nguyen (Chapter 4) discuss the results obtained by the MNCP code to evaluate the correc‐

The second section of the book is dedicated to neutron activation systems and technologies. Chapter 5 by Vitaly Krasilnikov, Mun Seong Cheon, and Luciano Bertalot provides a fasci‐ nating presentation of the neutron activation system (NAS), which was designed for ITER Tokamak. The main goal of the ITER NAS was to evaluate the total plasma neutron produc‐ tion rate. This system is under development by the Korean Domestic Agency of ITER.

Chapter 6 by Maria Angela de B. C. Menezes and Radojko Jaćimović provides an overview of the establishment of the methodology to analyze up to 5 g samples by k0-instrumental

The editor wishes to thank all the authors for their high-level and valuable chapters. I would like to pay tribute to prominent scientists Profs. Nicolas Spirou and Andras Simonits, widely known for their research in the field of nuclear physics, who passed away last year. I would also like to thank Prof. G. Kennedy for his help concerning the drafting of several parts in

health, cosmology, archeology, forensic science, etc.

ies in the fields of geology and medicine.

tion factors for neutron activation foils.

NAA at CDTN, Brazil.

the first chapter.

NAA method.

VIII Preface

ar facilities. Readers should refer to the work discussed in all chapters.

I am also grateful to IntechOpen book manager Ms. Iva Lipović for her patience and assis‐ tance during the different edition phases of this book.

Finally, I would like to thank my husband Alghem Abdeldjalil for his help and encourage‐ ment during all my professional career and the preparation and edition of this book.

AQ: Please check if edits to the sentence beginning "Concentrations of trace levels..." retain the intended sense.

**Dr. Lylia Alghem Hamidatou**

Director of Nuclear Techniques and Applications Division Nuclear Research Centre of Birine Djelfa, Algeria

**Section 1**

**Recent Applications of Neutron Activation**

**Analysis**

**Recent Applications of Neutron Activation Analysis**

**Chapter 1**



**Provisional chapter**

**Overview of Neutron Activation Analysis**

**Overview of Neutron Activation Analysis**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.85461

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of physical principles, procedures, proprieties, and some scientific achievements of neutron activation analysis. The most scientific events organized by the International Scientific Committees ICAA and k<sup>0</sup>

**Keywords:** neutron activation analysis, research reactor, gamma spectrometry systems,

Neutron activation analysis is a physical technique that is based on nuclear reactions. The sample becomes radioactive when neutrons react with the nuclei of the elements' atoms. Radionuclides are formed and subsequently decay by emitting gamma rays that are unique in half-life and energy. Gamma-ray intensity is proportional to the element content in the sample.

cal techniques used for the quantitative multielement analysis of major, minor, and trace elements in samples from almost every conceivable field of scientific or technical interest [1–9].

The elements in a sample to be analyzed are made radioactive by irradiation with neutrons, and the induced radioactive samples can be identified and measured. The amount of a given neutron activation product that formed during neutron irradiation is proportional to the amount of its parent isotope and thus the concentration of the corresponding element [2].

medicine and geology applications, advanced technologies, innovation

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use,

distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and k<sup>0</sup>

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85461

Lylia Alghem Hamidatou

Lylia Alghem Hamidatou

**Abstract**

**1. Principles**

**2. Procedures**

are also reported.

#### **Chapter 1 Provisional chapter**

#### **Overview of Neutron Activation Analysis Overview of Neutron Activation Analysis**

#### Lylia Alghem Hamidatou Lylia Alghem Hamidatou

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85461

**Abstract**

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of physical principles, procedures, proprieties, and some scientific achievements of neutron activation analysis. The most scientific events organized by the International Scientific Committees ICAA and k<sup>0</sup> -ISC are also reported.

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.85461

**Keywords:** neutron activation analysis, research reactor, gamma spectrometry systems, medicine and geology applications, advanced technologies, innovation
