Data Management and Acquisition System for INAA

Conference · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:786643

Ondov, Donald J; Ondov, John M

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) remains a powerful technique for multielemental trace analysis. In atmospheric aerosol studies, we typically determine 40 elements, including markers of natural and anthropogenic sources, heavy metals, and toxic or nutrient trace elements in aerosol samples. The need for size spectral, spatial, and temporal information requires that hundreds of samples be collected and accurately analyzed. Quality assurance is a primary component of the analytical protocol. The quality of INAA data depends on counting statistics--accurate preparation of standards, positioning of samples above the detector, resolution of interferences, and correction for coincidence effects when counting close to the detector--and on reliable operation of the amplifier and analog-to-digital converters. Furthermore, the analysis of such large numbers of samples by INAA is a complicated endeavor, involving a large number of tasks that, if not recorded or completed properly, can compromise the analysis. To reduce the possibility of operator error in keeping track of a complex array of information and to speed the detection of instrumental faults, we have developed a new analysis protocol and automated sample analysis and management (SAM) software system. The SAM system is a relational database application designed to log data associated with the collection of atmospheric aerosol and associated samples collected with a variety of instruments, assist in choosing samples for analysis by a variety of techniques, schedule irradiation and counting for INAA, interface with the ORTEC Gamma Vision (GV) software, capture the analytical data, calculate elemental masses from activities provided by GV, and prepare first-tier data summaries and manipulations. All the sample and flux monitor counts are initiated through SAM.

• Research Organization: Ondov Software Labs, Whitehouse Station, NJ (US); University of Maryland, College Park, MD (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: none (US)
• OSTI ID: 786643
• Report Number(s): none; ISSN 0003-018X; CODEN TANSAO; ISSN 0003-018X; CODEN TANSAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTERS
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
MANAGEMENT
NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
QUALITY ASSURANCE
S CODES
TRACE AMOUNTS