MULTIELEMENT ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL REFERENCE MATERIALS BY INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

Concentrations of trace elements in environmental reference materials prepared by the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan (NIES) and by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA (NIST) were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). NIES CRM No. 5 Human Hair, No. 6 Mussel, No. 7 Tea Leaves, No. 8 Vehicle Exhaust Particulates, No. 9 Sargasso and No. 10 Rice Flour-unpolished samples (ca. 150 - 1200 mg) and NIST SRM 1632a Bituminous Coal, SRM 1635 Sub-bituminous Coal and SRM 1633a Coal Fly Ash samples (ca.10 150 mg) were irradiated at the Musashi Institute of Technology Research Reactor (MITRR). Concentrations of 28 - 52 elements in these NIFS and NIST environmental reference materials were determined by two irradiation methods and four gamma-ray counting methods. The determined values were in good agreement with the NIES and NIST certified values.