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, Giovanni, Maffezzoli, Niccolò, Clemenza, Massimiliano, Delmonte, Barbara, Prata, Michele, Salvini, Andrea, Maggi, Valter, Previtali, Ezio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Low background NAA; Low level counting technique; Ice core; Atmospheric mineral dust; Multi-elemental analysis; ice core
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11590/468672; https://doi.org/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.