Radiochemical neutron activation analysis of traces of vanadium in biological samples: A comparison of prior dry ashing with post-irradiation wet ashing

Summary

A radiochemical neutron activation technique for nanogram and subnanogram levels of vanadium in biological samples was developed, based on dry ashing of the sample prior to irradiation, but without any chemical treatment. It was compared to and validated by parallel analyses of low-level reference materials and human blood using a previously developed totally post-irradiation technique based on rapid wet ashing of the irradiated sample. The irradiated ash was also wet ashed after neutron bombardment to ensure complete dissolution, equilibration with carrier and removal of ³⁸Cl. Results for reference materials, including Versieck's Second Generation Human Serum Reference Material and IAEA Animal Blood, were in excellent agreement by the two techniques, and with reference to literature values. Both methods give exceptionally good radiochemical decontamination of ⁵²V from other nuclides and have nearly quantitative yields. The dry ash mode is slightly quicker and easier to manipulate.