Future of neutron activation analysis - instrumental and radiochemical

This review uses publications and papers presented at conferences over the last two years to examine current usage and to predict future trends for both instrumental and radiochemical neutron activation analyses. Speed of analysis and lower limits of detection have been and will continue to be important criteria. The increased use of short-lived radionuclides dominates instrumental analysis, while rapid adsorption and precipitation techniques form the basis of the radiochemical analysis. Finally, the future of neutron activation analysis is briefly reviewed with the advent of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as a sensitive, multi-element, trace analytical technique