Evaluation of detection limits and analytical blanks for trace element determination of airborne particles by NAA

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:552340

Landsberger, S ^[1]; Biegalski, S R ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
2. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)

During the 1960s neutron activation analysis (NAA) and X-ray fluorescence were at the historical forefront of multielemental determination in atmospheric studies. These analytical methods were major contributing factors to the initial development of source-receptor modeling. Without these multielemental data, mathematical models could never be so rigorously employed. Later, other multielemental techniques, including particle-induced X-ray emission and inductively coupled plasma, were accepted as alternative and complementary methods. But NAA still remains unique, primarily for its nondestructive characteristic and high sensitivity for a wide range of trace elements found in the atmosphere: urban, rural, and remote geographic areas of the world. The methods and techniques of NAA are now very well understood and employed in a wide variety of environmental samples. Furthermore, for airborne particulate matter, NAA can determine virtually all elements with the notable exceptions of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine, and lead. The sensitivity for sulfur is poor and is seldom reported in NAA studies.

• OSTI ID: 552340
• Report Number(s): CONF-971125--
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 77; ISSN TANSAO; ISSN 0003-018X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

40 CHEMISTRY
ACCURACY
EFFICIENCY
FLUORESCENCE
NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
PARTICULATES
POLLUTANTS
SENSITIVITY
STATISTICS