6. Some applications

BCR-320R, channel sediment Element Certified values, k = 2 Experimental results, k = 1 Small sample, n = 3, (0.150 g) Large samples, n = 3, (1 g) (mg kg<sup>1</sup> ) (mg kg<sup>1</sup> ) |En| (mg kg<sup>1</sup> ) |En| As 21.7 2.0 21.2 0.7 0.19 21.5 0.9 0.08 Co 9.7 0.6 9.3 0.3 0.48 9.2 0.3 0.54 Cr 59 4 58 2 0.19 57 3 0.39 Fe 25,700 1300 24,180 851 0.71 24,100 867 0.74

Sc 5.2 0.4 5.0 0.2 0.41 5.0 0.2 0.37 Th 5.3 0.4 5.0 0.2 0.51 4.9 0.2 0.68 U 1.56 0.20 1.5 0.1 0.29 1.4 0.1 0.49 Zn 319 20 304 11 0.48 310 11 0.28

In order to confirm the applicability and its ability to produce good results, several reference materials were analysed as small and large samples. Tables 4–6 show the results of certified Element NIES no 7, tea leaves

(mg kg�<sup>1</sup>

Small sample (0.2040 g)

(mg kg�<sup>1</sup>

\* μg kg�<sup>1</sup> .

two large samples [53].

Certified values, k = 2 Experimental results, k = 1

Br 2.5 � 0.1 2.8 � 0.2 0.77 2.4 � 0.1 0.56 Ca 3200 � 120 3607 � 266 0.75 2794 � 200 0.97 Fe 98 � 7 114 � 9 0.84 98 � 5 0.01 K 18,600 � 700 20,240 � 800 0.94 18,200 � 687 0.26 La 0.068 � 0.002 0.080 � 0.006 1.00 0.064 � 0.003 0.58 Na 15.5 � 1.5 18 � 1 0.97 18 � 1 1.00 Rb 6.59 � 0.01 6.7 � 0.3 0.14 5.8 � 0.5 0.93

Table 6. Mass fractions obtained for reference material NIES no 7, tea leaves, analysed as small and large samples [52].

) (mg kg�<sup>1</sup>

Small sample (0.2415 g)

Large sample (0.5703 g)

) (mg kg�<sup>1</sup>

Large sample (2.5396 g)

Ba <10 8 � 1 8 � 1 45 � 2 45 � 2 45 � 2 Br 1.88 � 0.07 1.81 � 0.06 1.79 � 0.06 8.7 � 0.3 8.8 � 0.3 8.0 � 0.3 Ca <690 643 � 127 553 � 87 7081 � 504 7281 � 462 6918 � 572 Co 0.024 � 0.007 0.029 � 0.002 0.030 � 0.003 0.35 � 0.01 0.35 � 0.02 0.37 � 0.02 Cs 0.087 � 0.005 0.092 � 0.004 0.086 � 0.004 0.044 � 0.004 0.044 � 0.003 0.044 � 0.003 Fe 56 � 7 60 � 3 56 � 3 118 � 6 97 � 5 109 � 5 K 4134 � 146 4175 � 148 3972 � 140 8531 � 300 8618 � 304 8213 � 291 La <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 0.069 � 0.006 0.062 � 0.004 0.073 � 0.003

Mo 0.5 � 0.1 <0.6 0.6 � 0.1 <0.4 <0.4 <0.4 Na 10 � 1 10.6 � 0.4 10.9 � 0.4 7.3 � 0.2 7.2 � 0.3 8.8 � 0.4 Rb 9.0 � 0.4 8.7 � 0.4 8.3 � 0.3 11.8 � 0.5 11.8 � 0.5 11.9 � 0.5 Sc\* 2.9 � 0.4 1.8 � 0.3 1.6 � 0.3 <0.02 <0.02 <0.02

Sm <0.004 <0.004 <0.004 <0.008 0.008 � 0.002 0.010 � 0.001 Sr <10 <10 <10 46 � 3 47 � 3 45 � 2 Ta <0.01 <0.005 0.018 � 0.004 <0.03 <0.03 <0.03 Zn <32 <32 <32 61 � 2 61 � 2 51 � 2

Table 7. Mass fractions obtained for oatmeal powder and chia powder analysed in three sizes of samples: one small and

) (mg kg�<sup>1</sup>

El. Oatmeal powder Chia powder

El., element; experimental values are given as combined standard uncertainty.

) (mg kg�<sup>1</sup>

Large sample (0.6085 g)

) (mg kg�<sup>1</sup>

Small sample (0.3024 g) Large sample (3.5517 g)

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) |En|

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Large sample (3.4228 g)

)

) (mg kg�<sup>1</sup>

) |En| (mg kg�<sup>1</sup>


Table 4. Mass fractions obtained for certified reference material BCR-320R, Channel Sediment, analysed as small and large samples [51].


Table 5. Mass fractions obtained for certified reference material NIST SRM 1572, Citrus Leaves, analysed as small and large samples [52].


6. Some applications

BCR-320R, channel sediment

n, number of replicates.

samples [51].

large samples [52].

(mg kg<sup>1</sup>

Element NIST SRM 1572, citrus leaves

(mg kg<sup>1</sup>

Element Certified values, k = 2 Experimental results, k = 1

102 Advanced Technologies and Applications of Neutron Activation Analysis

) (mg kg<sup>1</sup>

In order to confirm the applicability and its ability to produce good results, several reference materials were analysed as small and large samples. Tables 4–6 show the results of certified

As 21.7 2.0 21.2 0.7 0.19 21.5 0.9 0.08 Co 9.7 0.6 9.3 0.3 0.48 9.2 0.3 0.54 Cr 59 4 58 2 0.19 57 3 0.39 Fe 25,700 1300 24,180 851 0.71 24,100 867 0.74 Sc 5.2 0.4 5.0 0.2 0.41 5.0 0.2 0.37 Th 5.3 0.4 5.0 0.2 0.51 4.9 0.2 0.68 U 1.56 0.20 1.5 0.1 0.29 1.4 0.1 0.49 Zn 319 20 304 11 0.48 310 11 0.28

Table 4. Mass fractions obtained for certified reference material BCR-320R, Channel Sediment, analysed as small and large

As 3.1 0.3 3.5 0.1 0.91 2.8 0.1 0.78 Ba 21 3 21 2 0.09 18 1 0.97 Ca 31,500 1000 34,780 1554 1.00 29,150 1098 0.97 Cr 0.8 0.2 0.8 0.1 0.12 0.81 0.05 0.05 Fe 90 10 108 8 0.95 98 4 0.58 Hg 0.08 0.02 < 0.2 — 0.09 0.01 0.42 K 18,200 600 20,570 1200 0.96 17,360 684 0.56 Na 160 20 185 7 1.00 165 6 0.22 Rb 4.84 0.06 5.3 0.5 0.54 4.5 0.2 0.90 Sr 100 2 111 8 0.73 94 4 0.61

Table 5. Mass fractions obtained for certified reference material NIST SRM 1572, Citrus Leaves, analysed as small and

Certified values, k = 2 Experimental results, k = 1

) (mg kg<sup>1</sup>

Small sample, n = 3, (0.150 g) Large samples, n = 3, (1 g)

) |En|

) |En|

) |En| (mg kg<sup>1</sup>

Small sample (0.2124 g) Large sample (2.4758 g)

) |En| (mg kg<sup>1</sup>

Table 6. Mass fractions obtained for reference material NIES no 7, tea leaves, analysed as small and large samples [52].


El., element; experimental values are given as combined standard uncertainty. \* μg kg�<sup>1</sup> .

Table 7. Mass fractions obtained for oatmeal powder and chia powder analysed in three sizes of samples: one small and two large samples [53].


It is important to note that once the methodology is established, the following benefits may be obtained: reaching lower limits of detection; enabling compliance, for example, in environmental legislation in determining the concentration of metals in soil; analyses of more representative aliquots, especially in the case of non-homogeneous samples, as industrial waste; optimization of the cost and time of analysis, because instead of analysing several small samples they could be replaced by a large sample; analyses of whole parts when removing the aliquots are not possible. This study is still going on in order to confirm the benefits that

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This investigation has confirmed that any other laboratory applying k0-instrumental neutron activation analysis (k0-INAA) is able to establish this methodology without having to modify its facilities, since the neutron self-shielding, gamma attenuation and detector efficiency over

This work was partially supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency under grant BRA-14798, by the Brazilian Foundation for Research Support of Minas Gerais, FAPEMIG, under grant APQ-01259-09, and by financial support from the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) through programme P1-0143. Thanks to Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, CNPq, and to Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, CAPES. Thanks to the TRIGA MARK I IPR-R1 reactor staff for making the use of the reactor for the experiments possible. Last but not least thanks to Dr Tibor G. Kocsor (Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry) for allowing the use of tables and

\* and Radojko Jaćimović

1 Nuclear Technology Development Centre, Brazilian Commission for Nuclear Energy,

[1] Hamidatou L, Slamene H, Akhal T, Zouranen B. Concepts, Instrumentation and techniques of neutron activation analysis. In: Kharfi F, editor. Imaging and Radioanalytical Techniques in Interdisciplinary Research. IntechOpen. DOI: 10.5772/53686. Available

2

have been already mentioned.

the volume sample are established.

Acknowledgements

figures previously published.

Maria Ângela de B.C. Menezes<sup>1</sup>

\*Address all correspondence to: menezes@cdtn.br

CDTN/CNEN, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

2 Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Author details

References

Table 8. Mass fractions obtained for soil, analysed as small and large samples.

reference materials, BCR-320R, Channel Sediment, NIST SRM 1572, Citrus Leaves, and reference material, NIES no 7, Tea Leaves, respectively. Tables 7 and 8 show examples of samples analysed at the Laboratory for Neutron Activation Analysis, as small and large samples.
