• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권11호
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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.

• 분석과학
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.521-528
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• 2002

남해연안 갯벌 속에 있는 무기원소들의 정량을 위해 중성자 방사화 분석법과 ICP-AES를 적용하였다. 중성자 방사화 분석법과 ICP=AES에 의하여 얻어진 Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Na의 분석결과들을 상호 비교하였다. 결과적으로 침전물 중의 미량 원소를 분석하는데 ICP-AES보다 중성자 방사화 분석법이 더 우수한 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 중성자 방사화 분석법은 갯벌과 같은 복잡한 모체를 갖는 환결시료들의 분석헤서 중요한 역할을 할 것이다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권11호
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• pp.4246-4251
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• 2023

The optimized design of a Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) system, including Delayed Gamma NAA (DGNAA) and Prompt Gamma NAA (PGNAA), has been proposed in this research based on Mevex Linac with 5 MeV electron energy and 50 kW power as a neutron source. Based on the MCNPX 2.6 simulation, the optimized configuration contains; tungsten as an electron-photon converter, BeO as a photoneutron target, BeD₂ and plexiglass as moderators, and graphite as a reflector and collimator, as well as lead as a gamma shield. The obtained thermal neutron flux at the beam port is equal to 2.06 × 10⁹ (# /cm².s). In addition, using the optimized neutron beam, the detection limit has been calculated for some elements such as H-1, B-10, Na-23, Al-27, and Ti-48. The HPGe Coaxial detector has been used to measure gamma rays emitted by nuclides in the sample. By the results, the proposed system can be an appropriate solution to measure the concentration and toxicity of elements in different samples such as food, soil, and plant samples.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.213-219
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• 1998

This study was conducted to compare and evaluate the iodide specific ion electrode method (ISE) and neutron activation analysis method (NAA) for determining iodine in human milk and cow milk. The neutron irradiation and counting operations were carried out at the TRIGA Mark-III reactor facility of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The mean concentrations of iodine in human milk samples by the ISE and the NAA were 1450$\mu\textrm{g}$/L and 1350$\mu\textrm{g}$/L, respectively. The levels were not significantly different. In cow milk samples , the mean concentrations of iodine by the ISE and the NAA were 250$\mu\textrm{g}$.L and 200$\mu\textrm{g}$/L, respectively. here, the ISE reading was significantly higher than the NAA. reading. The correlations of the two methods were 0.92(p<0.001) for human milk samples and 0.65 for cow milk samples . The coefficient of variation was 8.3% in the ISE and 4.9% in the NAA. Therefore, the iodide specific ion electrode method is sample and fast method, but probably not in processed milk since free sulfhydryl groups in milk are also detected by the iodide electrode. However, these also indicate that the ISE method may be applicable to human milk and pasteurized milk if the conventional pasteurization time-temperature relationship of standards is not exceeded. On the other hand, the NAA method , which is independent of chemical forms and matrix, can be used for determining iodine in all kinds of milk and foods.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제50권8호
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• pp.1349-1354
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• 2018

Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) is widely used for the determination of trace elements in geological samples in Iran. In this paper, we have calculated the detection limits of neutron activation analysis (NAA) for some of the common elements in such samples utilizing the ORIGEN and MCNP codes and verified the simulations using the experimental results of three soil standard reference materials, namely, G02.SRM, G18.SRM, and G28.SRM. The results show that while the detection limit of ICP-AES method is usually in the mg/kg range, it is represented to the ${\mu}g/kg$ range for most of the elements of interest using the NAA method, and the simulations can be verified in a tolerance range of 20%.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제49권3호
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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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• 제34권6호
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• pp.566-573
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• 2002

Neutron activation analysis based on $textsc{k}$$_{o}$-standardization method＃ ($textsc{k}$o-NAA) is Com as one of the most remarkable progresses of the NAA with advantages of experimental simplicity, high accuracy, excellent flexibility with respect to irradiation and counting conditions, and suitability for computerization. This study was carried out to determine the reactor neutron spectrum parameters, i.e. $\alpha$ and f as the main factors of irradiation quality at NAA ＃1 irradiation hole on HANARO research reactor, to evaluate peak detection efficiency of the gamma-ray spectrometer for the use in the $textsc{k}$$_{o}$ experiments and to compare the measured concentration results with the certified values of some SRMs applying the experimentally determined to-parameters.ers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.1036-1044
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• 2023

The combination of MCNP6 and the FISPACT codes was used to predict inventories of radioisotopes produced by neutron exposure of a sample in a research reactor. The detailed MCNP6 model of the Budapest Research Reactor and the specific irradiation geometry of the NAA channel was established, while realistic material cards were specified based on concentrations measured by PGAA and NAA, considering the precursor elements of all significant radioisotopes. The energy- and spatial distributions of the neutron field calculated by MCNP6 were transferred to FISPACT, and the resulting activities were validated against those measured using neutron-irradiated small and bulky targets. This approach is general enough to handle different target materials, shapes, and irradiation conditions. A general agreement within 10% has been achieved. Moreover, the method can also be made applicable to predict the activation properties of the near-vessel concrete of existing nuclear installations or assist in the optimal construction of new nuclear power plant units.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.64-71
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• 2002

Hair provides important information about the body's mineral status. Therefore, we have studied the trace elemental distribution in human hair under different inhalation and ingestion environment using neutron activation analysis (NAA). NAA is a powerful analytical method which can be used successfully to determine trace elements in environmental and biological materials. Total diet and six different herbal medicine were analysed to study ingestion environment. Airborne dust in foundry was analysed and compared with outdoor dust to study inhalation environment. Human hairs of common person, herbal medicine taker and foundry worker were analysed to estimate the trace elemental distribution of people under different inhalation and ingestion environment. Analytical results show that herbal medicines contain higher micronutrients such as Ca, Mg, Mn and Cu that total diet and airborne dust in foundry has high Cr. The concentration of Ca, Mg and Mn in hair of herbal medicine taker is two times higher than in hair of common person and Cr con-centration in hair of foundry worker is about three times higher than in hair of common person. These results show that NAA can be used importantly to monitor human health through biological and environmental samples.

• 분석과학
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.358-367
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• 2003

이 연구는 먼저 침전물 속에 major 원소 (Al, Ca, K, Fe, Mg)를 측정하기위해 ICP-MS를 이용하여 분석방법을 개발하였다. Cool ICP-MS로 major원소를 분석한 결과 Normal ICP-MS보다 더 좋은 분석 결과를 얻었다. 또한 그 결과를 NAA의한 분석 결과와 비교해 보았다. NAA는 고체시료의 비파괴 미량분석법이며 침전물 속에 major원소들에 대한 측정 결과는 ICP-MS보다 더 좋은 결과를 얻었다. 또한 침전물 속에 minor 원소 (Cr, Ce, U, Co, Pb, As, Se)를 측정하기 위해 ICP-MS를 이용하여 분석방법을 개발하였다. 표준 검정곡선으로 분석한 결과 모체방해효과 때문에 정확도가 좋지 않았다. 그래서 ICP-MS를 이용하여 내부표준물법으로 minor 원소들을 분석했을 때 결과값이 향상됨을 알 수 있었다. 그 결과를 NAA분석법과 비교해도 ICP-MS를 이용한 방법이 더 좋은 결과였음을 알 수 있었다. 두 가지의 분석방법은 침전물 속에 존재하는 minor 원소를 충분히 측정할 수 있다. 그러므로 NAA 분석법이 모체가 복잡한 환경시료를 분석하는데 중요한 역할을 하며, ICP-MS 또한 NAA 분석법으로는 분석 할 수 없는 납을 검출할 수 있기 때문에 환경시료를 분석하는데 두 분석법은 상호 보완할 수 있는 중요한 분석법이다.