Determination of elements by nuclear analytical methods

Abstract

The working principle of nuclear analytical methods (NAMs) is not influenced by the chemical bond. Consequently, they are independent counterparts to the well-known chemical procedures. NAMs obey fundamental laws or can be described and understood thoroughly. This qualifies them as candidates for reference methods. Although following similar nuclear reaction schemes, they comprise bulk analyzing capability (neutron and photon activation analysis) as well as detection power in surface near regions of solids (ion beam techniques). Prominent features of NAMs are sensitivity, selectivity, multielement determination and linearity of the calibration function covering a concentration range of several orders of magnitude. Moreover, ion beam techniques allow depth profiling with nm-resolution in several cases while the ion microprobe additionally offers a lateral resolution in the micron-scale. As NAMs require expensive apparatus (nuclear reactor, accelerator in radioactive control areas) their availability is restricted to a small number of suitably equipped institutes. However, they are able to solve complex analytical tasks, take part in key comparisons and play an essential role in the certification of reference materials.

Analytical Chemistry of Element Determination (Non‐Nuclear and Nuclear)

“…The critical review by Bowen (1980) on applications of activation techniques to biological analysis, is an excellent presentation by a well-known trace element analyst of principles and applications of activation analysis to biological samples, including a brief history of activation analysis in biology, stages in activation analysis, characteristics of activation analysis such as elements determined, sensitivity, interferences, accuracy/ precision, sample destruction, and applications in areas of reference materials, biochemistry, microbiology, plant science, marine biology, and various applications in human studies. Vandecasteele (1991) has a brief review of recent developments and trends in instrumental and radiochemical neutron activation as well as charged particle activation analysis and comparison with ICP-MS. A recent review by Weise et al (2001) on determination of elements by nuclear analytical methods, is a clear, short summary of the principles of several variants of activation methods. A nice recent summary of fundamentals and applications of instrumental and radiochemical separation NAA is provided by Dybczynski (2001).…”

Nuclear Activation Methods in the Estimation of Environmental Pollution and the Assessment of the Industrial Plant Impact on the Citizens of Gdansk (Poland)

“…This method has stimulated research in various fields such as food analysis, chemistry, biology, geology and geochemistry, environmental science, and related fields (Orvini and Speziali 1998;Weise et al 2001;Bode and De Goeij 1998;Ryabukhin 1978;Ż ukowska and Biziuk 2008;Biziuk and Kuczyń ska 2007;Szczepaniak and Biziuk 2003;Witkowska 2005). In general, NAA is the most suitable technique for materials, which are difficult to convert into a solution for analysis and which only milligram quantities are available.…”

“…Neutron activation analysis (NAA) is a very powerful method applicable for both quantitative and qualitative measurements of many elements in different samples (Orvini and Speziali 1998;Weise, Gö rner, and Hedrich 2001;Bode and De Goeij 1998). This method has stimulated research in various fields such as food analysis, chemistry, biology, geology and geochemistry, environmental science, and related fields (Orvini and Speziali 1998;Weise et al 2001;Bode and De Goeij 1998;Ryabukhin 1978;Ż ukowska and Biziuk 2008;Biziuk and Kuczyń ska 2007;Szczepaniak and Biziuk 2003;Witkowska 2005).…”

Trace cobalt speciation in bacteria and at enzymic active sites using emission Mössbauer spectroscopy

“…As reviewed recently by Weise et al [3], nuclear analytical methods generally do not allow speciation analysis to be performed, because the analytical result is not influenced by the chemical state of the element under quantification. Nevertheless, the emission variant of Möss-bauer (nuclear gamma-resonance) spectroscopy (EMS), which is commonly not regarded as a purely analytical method (albeit capable of providing quantitative data on the content of certain chemical species) and is not mentioned in the above review [3], can provide essential information on the atomic level directly on the chemical state of the trace nuclide. This is due to its much higher sensitivity as compared to its absorption variant.…”