Low-background neutron activation analysis: a powerful tool for atmospheric mineral dust analysis in ice cores

• Published in: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
• Main Authors: Baccolo G., Maffezzoli N., Clemenza M., Delmonte B., Prata M., Salvini A., Maggi V., Previtali E.
• Other Authors: Baccolo, G., Maffezzoli, N., Clemenza, M., Delmonte, B., Prata, M., Salvini, A., Maggi, V., Previtali, E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Atmospheric mineral dust; Ice core; Low background NAA; Low level counting technique; Multi-elemental analysis; Settore FIS/07 - Fisica Applicata(Beni Culturali; Ambientali; Biol.e Medicin); ice core
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10278/3757188; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4206-2; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10967-015-4206-2

The application of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for multi-elemental analysis of samples of extremely reduced mass such as dust samples extracted from ice cores requires specific efforts towards the development of a “low level counting” analytical technique. An analytical protocol specifically designed for this kind of samples, based on low-background INAA (LBNAA) is here presented. A first application of the method was successfully performed on samples from the new alpine firn core NextData-LYS12. Sub-ng detection limits were reached for many elements. According to this point the technique is also potentially suitable to be applied to polar ice core samples.