Determination of fluorine concentrations in soil samples using proton induced gamma-ray emission

Abstract

A non-destructive, in situ current normalized particle induced gamma-ray emission methodology has been standardized for quantification of fluorine (F) in soil samples from Punjab state, India. The samples were irradiated using 4 MeV proton beam from the Folded Tandem Ion Accelerator at BARC, Mumbai. The gamma rays of energies 197 and 478 keV arising from 19 F(p, p 0 c) 19 F and 7 Li(p, p 0 c) 7 Li nuclear reactions were measured using high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. The concentration of fluorine in soil samples was found to vary between 414 and 5,746 mg kg -1 .

Novel Fluoroalkylated Surfactants in Soils Following Firefighting Foam Deployment During the Lac-Mégantic Railway Accident

“…The fact that less than half (33/88) of the detected compounds could be quantified should bring attention to the immense lack of true standards for the quantification of PFASs, or for the creation of alternative methods for total PFASs estimation in soil, such as the total oxidizable precursors assay for water, 62 or total fluorine estimation using proton induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE). 63 Concentrations were particularly high in samples collected weeks after the accident. The concentration of PFASs in soil collected two years later is 1or 2 orders of magnitude lower.…”

“…Even though these substances have been detected in formulations or impacted water, this is the first time that their presence is reported in impacted soil. The fact that less than half (33/88) of the detected compounds could be quantified should bring attention to the immense lack of true standards for the quantification of PFASs, or for the creation of alternative methods for total PFASs estimation in soil, such as the total oxidizable precursors assay for water, or total fluorine estimation using proton induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) …”