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Boron in coral skeletons determined by prompt γ-ray analysis

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Abstract

A systematic and non-destructive technique is proposed for the determination of boron in coral samples by neutron-induced prompt γ-ray analysis (PGA) using a thermal neutron guide beam of the JRR-3M reactor. About 50–150 mg samples in sealed FEP film were irradiated and measured for 5000 s in the PGA system at a neutron flux of 2.4 × 107 n cm−2 s−1. In order to determine B content in coral skeletons, the Doppler-broadened γ-ray peak of 478 keV (10B) was used together with the correction of interference from the Na-peak of 472 keV. The analytical precision was ~3% for the JCp-1 coral standard. The data (n = 56) obtained by the present method showed a range of B content from 40.7 to 76.9 ppm which is similar to reported values. Boron in corals showed the highest levels in Rukan-sho (Okinawa) with an average B content of 62.5 ppm, whereas corals collected from Mizugama (Okinawa), Cebu (the Philippines) and Khang Khao (Thailand) exhibited B contents of 56.5, 53.0 and 45.7 ppm, respectively. The uptake of boron by living corals may be influenced by seawater pH related to higher seawater B(OH) −4 . In this paper we discuss factors controlling the B levels in corals.

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Acknowledgments

We thank M. Hungspreugs, S. Sirirattanachai and A. A. Ramos for coral sampling opportunity in Thailand and the Philippines, and K. Sawahata and the members of the Department of Research Reactor of the JAEA for their help and encouragement. We are grateful to A. K. Ouchi for critical reading the manuscript. The work has been supported in part by the Inter-University Program of Tokyo University for the Common Use of JAEA Facilities, and the Japanese Ministry of Education and Science through JSPS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan

    S. Ohde & K. Tanaka

  2. Southeast Asia START Regional Center, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    A. Snidvongs

  3. Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tokai-mura, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan

    H. Matsue

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  1. S. Ohde
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  2. K. Tanaka
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  3. A. Snidvongs
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  4. H. Matsue
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Correspondence to S. Ohde.

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Ohde, S., Tanaka, K., Snidvongs, A. et al. Boron in coral skeletons determined by prompt γ-ray analysis. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 289, 401–406 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1102-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1102-2

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