Determination of trace elements in high purity copper by INAA, GFAAS and ICP/AES

Trace impurity elements in high purity copper metal (4 nine class) put on the market were analyzed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and the results compared with those from Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (GFAAS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrophotometry (ICP-AES). The sample irradiation was done at the irradiation facilities (thermal neutron flux, 5 x 1012 n x cm-2 x s-1) of the TRIGA Mark-III research reactor in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Four unalloyed copper standards (NIST SRM 393, 394, 395 and 398) were used to identify the accuracy and precision of the analytical procedure. The homogeneity of samples was assessed by means of the elements such as Ag, As, Co, Sb, Se and Zn. The analytical results of INAA, GFAAS and ICP-AES were in good agreement within expected uncertainties each other and showed the possibility of using them for the analytical quality control. (author)