Instrumental neutron activation analysis for studying size-fractionated aerosols

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was utilized for studying a erosol samples collected into a coarse and a fine size fraction on Nuclepor e polycarbonate membrane filters. As a result of the panoramic INAA, 49 ele ments were determined in an amount of about 200-400 mu g of particulate mat ter by two irradiations and four gamma-spectrometric measurements. The anal ytical calculations were performed by the absolute (k(0)) standardization m ethod. The calibration procedures, application protocol and the data evalua tion process are described and discussed. They make it possible now to anal yse a considerable number of samples, with assuring the quality of the resu lts. As a means of demonstrating the system's analytical capabilities, the concentration ranges, median or mean atmospheric concentrations and detecti on limits are presented for an extensive series of aerosol samples collecte d within the framework of an urban air pollution study in Budapest. For mos t elements, the precision of the analysis was found to be beyond the uncert ainty represented by the sampling techniques and sample variability. (C) 19 99 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.