IMPROVEMENT OF THE STATE OF THE ART IN NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

Objective

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) is performed in the Community in approx. 30 institutes (400-3000 analyses/year each). The sensitivity and potential accuracy of NAA make it a powerful tool in a variety of applications such as:
- trace element determinations in medicine (approx. 30 % of the analyses)
- trace element determinations in environment, geology, archeology (approx. 20 % of the analyses)
NAA is frequently used in the certification of BCR reference materials. Whereas the availability of modern equipment should allow further improvement, difficulties were encountered for several elements including Cr, Se, V and Zn.
It is therefore planned to undertake a systematic study of the various causes of error, starting with Cr, Se and V.

STATUS

A detailed study of the causes of substantial errors in the analyses is in progress.

Programme(s)

• FP2-BCR 4 - Research and development programme (EEC) in the field of applied metrology and chemical analysis (Community Bureau of Reference - BCR), 1988-1992

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Centre de Recherches de Voreppe

Participants (18)

Comitato Nazionale per la Ricerca e per lo Sviluppo dell'Energia Nucleare e delle Energie Alternative

Italy

Address

Viale Regina Margherita 125
00198 Roma

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)

Italy

Address

Pavia

Danish Isotope Centre

Denmark

Address

Copenhagen

ECN Petten

Netherlands

FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JUELICH GMBH

Germany

Address

Wilhelm Johnen Strasse
52425 Juelich

GKSS - FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM GEESTHACHT GMBH

Germany

Address

Max-planck-strasse
Geesthacht

HAHN-MEITNER-INSTITUT BERLIN GMBH

Germany

Address

Glienicker Strasse 100
Berlin

Harwell Laboratory

United Kingdom

Address

Harwell
Didcot

IRI Delft

Netherlands

Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine

United Kingdom

Address

London

Inst. Nucleaire Wetenschappen

Belgium

Address

Gent

LNETI

Portugal

Address

Lisboa

Laboratoire Pierre Sue

France

Address

Centre D'etudes De Saclay
91191 Gif-sur-yvette

NCR "Demokritos"

Greece

Address

Athens

Risoe National Laboratory

Denmark

Address

Roskilde

Technical Research Centre

Finland

Address

Espoo

UNIVERSITAET ULM

Germany

Address

Ulm

Université de Strasbourg I (Université Louis Pasteur)

France

Address

67070 Strasbourg