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Determination of sulfur in steels by radiochemical neutron activation analysis with liquid scintillation counting

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Abstract

A method has been developed for the determination of low-level sulfur in steels by radiochemical neutron activation analysis. During sample irradiation, 35S is produced by the 34S(n,γ)35S reaction. Irradiated steels are mixed with sulfur carrier and dissolved in HCl/HNO3. Sulfur is reduced to H2S by reaction with HI/H3PO2/HCl. The evolved H2S is absorbed in dilute NaOH, which is mixed with scintillation cocktail for the measurement of 35S by liquid scintillation counting. Sulfur carrier yield is determined by iodometric titration. Chlorine is also determined by RNAA in order to correct for 35S produced via the 35Cl(n,p)35S reaction. Sulfur has been determined at mass fractions as low as ≈5 mg/kg in ultra-high-purity iron using this method.

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  1. Analytical Chemistry Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA

    R. L. Paul

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  1. R. L. Paul
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Correspondence to R. L. Paul.

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Paul, R.L. Determination of sulfur in steels by radiochemical neutron activation analysis with liquid scintillation counting. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 276, 243–249 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-007-0440-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-007-0440-6

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