Analyses of oxyanion materials by prompt gamma activation analysis

Abstract

Prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) has been used to analyze metal ion oxyanion materials that have multiple applications, including medicine, materials, catalysts, and electronics. The significance for the need for accurate, highly sensitive analyses for the materials is discussed in the context of quality control of end products containing the parent element in each material. Applications of the analytical data for input to models and theoretical calculations related to the electronic and other properties of the materials are discussed. IntroductionElemental analyses for a wide array of elements in the Periodic Table are of extreme value for a wide range of purposes, including trying to gain a knowledge of materials failure when it occurs, modeling the electronic, magnetic, and chemical properties, and assessing and verifying quality control of the purity of the materials in which they are found. Both the elements and their compounds are useful for an extremely wide variety of applications in chemistry and materials science, including applications that are dependent on the elements' magnetic, electronic, and physical properties as well as their ability to form compounds and complexes. In obtaining precise analytical data for materials, the analyst may need a technique which will give really good, high-quality analytical data while preserving the integrity of the samples for archival purposes.The materials that have been analyzed in the present study represent an eclectic group of elements that are important from a wide number of standpoints. Additionally, in many cases, the counteranions associated with the central elements in the materials can be of extreme importance in the compound's role as synthetic precursors for other materials where the original materials or compounds have really good advantages as starting materials. Beryllium nitrate, for example, can be used as a starting material for the synthesis of beryllium oxide, 1 which is used in an extremely wide variety of applications ranging from sophisticated electronic materials 2 to dopants in gemstones 3 to dental materials. 4 It also represents, however, an element whose toxicity in humans 5,6 makes it extremely important as an analytical target due to many applications that impact both humans and the environment. Magnesium sulfate is widely used in medical and biomedical applications, 7 while scandium and its compounds (including the sulfate analyzed here) act as precursors in the synthesis of materials as well as serve as materials on their own. 8 Antimony is used in a wide variety of applications employing mixed elemental oxides, including catalysts, alloys, and magnetic materials. 9 Gallium is used for a wide assortment of electronic materials such as gallium arsenide, 10 many of which demand extremely high purity and quality control. Lead has applications in materials including powders, electronic devices, and ceramics 11 and also an extensive biochemistry and toxicology, 12 all areas of interest areas necessitating the ability to obtain de...

Determining Elemental Composition Using Prompt γ Activation Analysis

“…Geological standards were analyzed with PGAA and compared with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) results . Several other measurements during the past 10−12 years also used the earlier versions of the analytical method presented here for the analysis of archeological samples, , metal alloys, geologic materials, in material science, , soil samples from meteor-impact sites, etc. with reliable results.…”

“…alloys, 28 geologic materials, 29 in material science, 30,31 soil samples from meteor-impact sites, 32 etc. with reliable results.…”