Determination of lithium, boron, and carbon by quasi-prompt charged particle activation analysis

A novel approach for rapid nondestructive trace analysis is presented, based on the detection of short-lived high energy β emitters (10 msec less than or equal to t/sub 1/2/ less than or equal to 1 sec) produced by charged particle bombardment. Lithium, boron, and carbon were determined via 7Li(d,p)3Li, 11B(d,p)12B and 12C(p,n)12N, respectively. These elements were measured at the 1- to 350-ppM level with a relative precision of 5 to 30 percent in glasses, semiconductor materials, botanical specimens, and metals. Experimental detection limits are 0.50 ppM for lithium, boron, and 50 ppM for carbon