Abstract
Abstract
The 2017 IAEA Proficiency Test Program has been carried out to improve the performance of the Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) laboratory. This activity has been organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cooperated with Wageningen Evaluating programs for Analytical Laboratory (Wepal). Eight samples of ISE (soil samples) and IPE (plant samples) obtained from Wepal under the 2017 Proficiency Test program. Moisture content has been determined using a gravimetric method at 105-110 C and 100-105 for ISE and IPE samples respectively. Target irradiation was carried out for long, medium, and short irradiation using a thermal neutron flux of about 2.3x1013 n.cm−2.s−1 at the rabbit facility of GA Siwabessy reactor. Elemental analysis has been done using kay zero (k0) and comparative method of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). On the kay zero-INAA method, the Al-0.1%Au alloy of IRMM-530R has been used as a flux monitor. Short half-life radionuclide was calculated using an Excel program for the comparative method and correction for a dead and counting time was applied. Quantitative determination has been carried out on a dry weight basis. The water content of the IPE sample was higher than that of the ISE sample. The result of the moister content of the IPE sample was in the range of 8% to 10%; meanwhile the moister content of the ISE sample was 2% to 6%. The elements detected on the IPE samples were less than that on the ISE sample. The elements of Na, Mn, V, Cl, Sc, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Zr, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, U, and Th have been determined on ISE sample. In the meantime, for IPE sample, the elements of K, Na, Mn, Cl, Mg, Al, Ca, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Sb, Cs, La, and Th can be evaluated quantitatively. Most of the elements evaluated have Z-score and Zeta-score of-3 to +3, which indicate good analytical performance for some elements, but for the element, some of them are out layer.
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy