Neutron activation analysis at the Livermore pool-type reactor for the environmental research program. [Identification of trace element contaminants]

Technical Report · Fri Jul 02 04:00:00 EDT 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7137483· OSTI ID:7137483

Ragaini, R C; Heft, R E; Garvis, D

Instrumental neutron activation analysis is a technique of trace analysis using measurements of radioactivity induced in the sample by exposure to a source of neutrons. The induced activity is measured by the emitted gamma radiation. Each gamma emitter can then be identified by the energy of the photopeaks produced as the nuclide decays and by the half-life of the neutron-induced activity. A complex computer program GAMANAL has been used to accomplish the major tasks of nuclide identification and quantification. The nuclide data output from GAMANAL is processed by a second computer code NADAC, which develops elemental abundance data from disintegration rates observed. The methods are those employed at the Livermore Pool-Type Reactor in support of the environmental research trace element analysis program. Among the procedures described and discussed are sample preparation, irradiation, analysis, and application of the technique.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7137483
• Report Number(s): UCRL-52092
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400101 -- Activation
Nuclear Reaction
Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENT
G CODES
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
MONITORING
N CODES
NEUTRON SOURCES
PARTICLE SOURCES
POLLUTION
RADIATION SOURCES
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SAMPLING
SPECTROSCOPY
TRACE AMOUNTS
WATER POLLUTION