• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.520-528
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• 2005

Two biological Certified Reference Materials (CRMs), KRISS 108-04-001 (oyster tissue) and 108-05-001 (water dropwort stem), were prepared by Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS)during FY '01. The certified values of these materials had been determined by Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry (IDMS) for six elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn). Additional analytical works are now progressing to certify the concentrations of a number of the environmental and nutrimental elements in these CRMs. The certified values in a CRM are usually determined by using a single primary method with confirmation by other method(s) or using two independent critically-evaluated methods. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) plays an important role in the determination of certified values as it can eliminate the possibility of common error sources resulting from sample dissolution. In this study INAA procedure was used in determination of 23 elements in these two biological CRMs to acquire the concentration information and the results were compared with KRISS certified values.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.562-568
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• 2017

Background: The chemical characterization of metallic alloys and oxides is conventionally carried out by wet chemical analytical methods and/or instrumental methods. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) is capable of analyzing samples nondestructively. As a part of a chemical quality control exercise, Zircaloys 2 and 4, nimonic alloy, and zirconium oxide samples were analyzed by two INAA methods. The samples of alloys and oxides were also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and direct current Arc OES methods, respectively, for quality assurance purposes. The samples are important in various fields including nuclear technology. Methods: Samples were neutron irradiated using nuclear reactors, and the radioactive assay was carried out using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. Major to trace mass fractions were determined using both relative and internal monostandard (IM) NAA methods as well as OES methods. Results: In the case of alloys, compositional analyses as well as concentrations of some trace elements were determined, whereas in the case of zirconium oxides, six trace elements were determined. For method validation, British Chemical Standard (BCS)-certified reference material 310/1 (a nimonic alloy) was analyzed using both relative INAA and IM-NAA methods. Conclusion: The results showed that IM-NAA and relative INAA methods can be used for nondestructive chemical quality control of alloys and oxide samples.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.813-820
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• 2009

A rapid pneumatic transfer system (PTS) for an instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) is developed as an automatic irradiation facility involving the measurement of a short half-life nuclide and a delayed neutron counting system. Three new PTS designs with improved functions were constructed at the HANARO research reactor in 2006. The new system is composed of a manual system and an automatic system for both an INAA and a delayed neutron activation analysis (DNAA). The design and basic conception of a modified PTS are described, and the functions of system operation and control, radiation protection and emissions of radioactive gas are improved. In addition, a form of capsule transportation of these systems is tested. The experimental results pertaining to the irradiation characteristics with variation of the neutron flux and the temperature of the irradiation position with the irradiation time are presented, as is an analysis of the reference material for analytical quality control and uncertainty assessments.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.346-353
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• 1999

For the non-destructive multi-elemental analysis of environmental and biological materials, instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied for the determination of toxic and trace elements in a set of three Algae samples provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The analytical quality control was evaluated by comparing the analytical results of two standard reference materials of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Oyster Tissue (SRM 1566a) and Citrus Leaves (SRM 1572). According to given analytical procedure, the concentration of 15-25 elements including spiked elements such as As, Cd, Cr and Hg in Algae samples were determined. To identify and validate these results, a data intercomparison program using more than 35 analytical methods in 150 laboratories was carried out and the estimated statistical data are summarized. Result of INAA is favorable, therefore, it is illustrated that can be applied for routine analysis of essential and toxic elements in algae samples as well as analytical quality assurance.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1391-1394
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• 2008

Polymer materials are very difficult to decompose for the purpose of chemical analysis. Nondestructive analysis without pretreatment provides a suitable solution that will overcome this obstacle. In this study, CRM candidate samples that contained toxic elements such as As, Cd, Cr and Zn in a polypropylene (PP) were analyzed using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The analytical results were obtained from ten samples selected by random sampling at two different concentration levels (low and high). Particular attention was paid to reducing analytical errors and evaluating the associated uncertainty.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4226-4230
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• 2022

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has designed a Hybrid-Low Power Research Reactor (H-LPRR) which can be used for critical assembly and conventional research reactor as well. It is an open tank-in-pool type research reactor (Thermal Power: 50 kW_th) of which the most important applications are Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), Radioisotope (RI) production, education and training. There are eight irradiation holes on the edge of the reactor core: IR (6 holes for RI production) and NA (2 holes for NAA) holes. In order to quantify the elemental concentration in target samples through the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA), it is necessary to measure neutron spectrum parameters such as thermal neutron flux, the deviation from the ideal 1/E epithermal neutron flux distribution (α), and the thermal-to-epithermal neutron flux ratio (f) for the irradiation holes. In this study, the MCNP6.1 code and FORTRAN 90 language are applied to determine the parameters for the two irradiation holes (NA-SW and NA-NW) in H-LPRR, and in particular its α and f parameters are compared to values of other research reactors. The results confirmed that the neutron irradiation holes in H-LPRR are designed to be sufficiently applied to neutron activation analysis, and its performance is comparable to that of foreign research reactors including the TRIGA MARK II.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.495-503
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• 1999

Airborne particulate matter $(PM_{10})$ collected using high volume air sampler and silica fiber filter were analyzed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis(INAA), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry(ICP-AES) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry(AAS), and the results were compared with each other. 30~40 trace elements in environmental standard reference materials(NIST SRM 1648 and NIES CRM No.8) were analyzed for the analytical quality control. The relative error for two-third of elements detected was less than 10%, and the standard deviation was less than 15%. During the sampling period for 24 hours, the mass concentration of total suspended particulate was 36.1$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ and the value is lower than the critical level in Korea. In the results of NAA, the elements of Al, As, Ba, Fe, La, Mg, Na, Sb, Zn were well agreed with those of other methods. In statistical estimation between different methods, the deviation of Al, Ba, Cr, Fe was less than 10% and quite reliable.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.116-121
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• 1998

For the application of study on pollution and conservation of environment determination of 33 elemental concetrations in different sediment samples were carried out using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). For verification and evaluation of the analytical method, three standard reference materials (two NIST SRMs and one NRCC CRM) were chosen and the accuracy and precision of the analysis were estimated by comparison to the certified values. Under the optimum condition, the analytical procedure to apply a practical sample was estimated. Neutron irradiation of sample was done at the irradiation facilities (neutron flux, 1-3${\times}$10$\^$13/n/$\textrm{cm}^2$$.$s) of the TRIGA MARK-III and HANARO research reactor in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. In addition, analysis of two IAEA's sediment was performed according to the pre-established analytical method. The analytical results of elements such as Al, As, Co, Cr, Fe, Sb and Zn by INAA were intercompared with those of WD-XRF, ICP-MS and AAS, and are relatively agreed with each other.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.477-482
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• 1994

By the instrumental neutron activation analysis using two comparators of gold and cobalt, 31 elements have been anlalyzed in anthracites collected from two main coal-fields in Korea. The average concentrations and ranges of the elements were obtained with the elemental difference between two coal-fields. The trends of rare-earth elemental distribution and vertical elemental distribution are also given.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.234-247
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• 1995

Trace elements in airborne particulates were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) under the optimum analytical condition. Neutron irradiation for sample was done at the irradiation hole(neutron flux 1$\times$10$^{13}$ n/$\textrm{cm}^2$.s) of TRIGA MARK-III research reactor in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. For the verification of the analytical method, NIST SRM-1648 and NIES CRM No.8 ore chosen and analyzed. The accuracy and precision of the analysis of 40 and 24 trace elements in the samples were compared with the certified and reported values, respectively. The analytical method was found to be reliable enough when the analytical data of NIES sample were compared with those of different counties. In the analytical result of two or both of standard reference materials, relative standard deviation wes within the 15％ except a few elements and the relative error was within the 10％. We used this method to analyze 30 trace elements in airborne particulates collected with the high volume air sampler(PM-10) at too different locations and also confirmed the possibility to use this method as a routine monitoring tool to find out environmental pollution sources.