Stable-isotope dilution activation analysis, and determination of Ca, Zn and Ce by means of photon activation

Abstract

As a new method, stable-isotope dilution activation analysis has been developed. When an element consists of at least two stable isotopes which are converted easily to the radioactive nuclides through nuclear reactions, the total amount of the element (xg) can be determined by irradiating simultaneously the duplicated sample containing small amounts of either enriched isotope (y g), and by using the following equation.

$${{x = y\left( {{M \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {M {M*}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {M*}}} \right)\left[ {\left( {{{R*} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{R*} R}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} R}} \right)\left( {{{\theta _2^* } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\theta _2^* } {\theta _2 }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\theta _2 }}} \right) - \left( {{{\theta _1^* } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\theta _1^* } {\theta _1 }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\theta _1 }}} \right)} \right]} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{x = y\left( {{M \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {M {M*}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {M*}}} \right)\left[ {\left( {{{R*} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{R*} R}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} R}} \right)\left( {{{\theta _2^* } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\theta _2^* } {\theta _2 }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\theta _2 }}} \right) - \left( {{{\theta _1^* } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\theta _1^* } {\theta _1 }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\theta _1 }}} \right)} \right]} {\left[ {1 - \left( {{{R*} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{R*} R}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} R}} \right)} \right]}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\left[ {1 - \left( {{{R*} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{R*} R}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} R}} \right)} \right]}}$$

Where M and M^* are atomic weights of the element to be determined and the enriched isotope used as a spike,θ ₁ andθ ₂ are natural abundances of two stable isotopes in the element,θ ^*₁ andθ ^*₂ are isotopic compositions of the above isotopes in the enriched isotope, and R and R^* are counting ratios of gamma-rays emitted by two radionuclides produced in the sample and the isotopic mixture. Neither calibration standard nor correction of irradiation conditions are necessary for this method. Usefulness of the present method was verified by photon activations of Ca, Zn and Ce using isotopically enriched⁴⁸ca,⁶⁸Zn and¹⁴²Ce.