Instrumental neutron activation analysis of fly ash and aerosols

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been used as a method for studying the atmospheric pollution in a heavily polluted industrial area with a coal-fired process-heat plant and steel mills. Samples of particulate emissions (fly ash) and aerosols taken in this area were subjected to instrumental neutron activation analysis using a 6 hour irradiation in a nuclear reactor. The results were evaluated by different methods. A 'ratio matching' method proposed by Anders was found to be very suitable for studying the influence of the elemental composition of emissions on the composition of aerosols. The elemental relationships for aerosols taken from different sampling stations were compared with those for different emissions, coals etc. on the basis of this method. The role of the precision of determination of the elements and the influence of some other factors on the results obtained by the 'ratio matching' method is discussed, as is the possibility of using enrichment factors. (author)