Determination of Fe and Mn in bauxite by neutron activation analysis and X-ray fluorescence method

The iron content of bauxites of different origin were determined by fast neutron activation analysis and X-ray fluorescence method, using a 252Cf fission neutron source in non-scattering geometry and Ge(Li) detector as well as 125I exciting source and Si(Li) detector, respectively. For the determination of Mn thermal neutron activation analysis was used. The sensitivity for iron is 1.15w% with an absolute statistical error less than 5% in the case of fast neutron activation analysis, while for the X-ray method the sensitivity is 0.06 w% and the absolute statistical error is 0.4% in the case of 8 g sample weight. The sensitivity of NAA method for the determination of Mn is 0.001 w% with an absolute statistical error of 1.7%. (author)