Abstract
Concentrations of major and trace elements in volcanic rock and soil samples, including geological standard reference materials, were determined by neutron activation analysis (NAA) and prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA), both using the k 0-standardization method. The paper highlights the different experimental procedures, such as sample preparation, data collection and spectrum evaluation. In geological samples, PGAA gives precise results for major elements (Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K and—as a unique method—for H), for some of the light trace elements as B and Cl, as well as for Sc, S, Cr, Co, Ni, Cd, Nd, Sm and Gd. NAA is sensitive for the rare earth elements, and for many major (Ti, Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K) and trace elements (e.g.: Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, As, Sb, Ce, Ba, Hf, Ta, W). For most major elements the results obtained by the two methods show good agreement. The comparison of the results obtained for trace elements is not always possible, since PGAA is less sensitive and concentrations are often below its detection limits. Nevertheless, the complementarity of NAA and PGAA allows nearly panoramic analysis of geological materials.
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Acknowledgments
The presenting author would like to thank for the support of Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA, EK) and for the Hungarian Chemical Association (MKE) for able to participate at the 6th International k 0-Users’ Workshop, Budapest, 22–27 September, 2013. IAEA is greatly thanked to support the 6th k 0-Users’ Workshop to help young researchers to attend the conference. Authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. Jesse L. Weil and László Szentmiklósi for the linguistic corrections and also their valuable discussions and constructive revision of the paper.
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Gméling, K., Simonits, A., Sziklai László, I. et al. Comparative PGAA and NAA results of geological samples and standards. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 300, 507–516 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3032-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3032-2