MULTIELEMENT DETERMINATION BY A COLD NEUTRON-INDUCED PROMPT GAMMA-RAYANALYSIS

A non-destructive multi-element determination using a cold neutron-ind uced prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA) has been investigated. The elemen ts H, C, N, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, CI, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Cd, Sm, G d and Hg were determined by a comparative standardization using the co ld neutron guided beams of JRR-3M (upgraded Japan Research Reactor No. 3). To accurately determine the amounts of elements, possible interfe rences by other elements and background counts were examined and evalu ated. Many elements in several reference materials, such as geological , environmental, and biological samples, coal and fuel oil, were deter mined, and the accuracy and precision of a multi-element determination were estimated. Toxic elements, such as Cd and Hg, at mu g/g levels w ere accurately determined in environmental samples. The detection limi ts in various matrices were from 25 to 820 ng/g for Cd, Sm and Gd, 1.1 to 820 mu g/g for H, Na, S, Cl, K, Ti, Mn, Co and Hg, and 0.031 to 10 % for C, N, Mg, Al, Si, P, Ca and Fe.