Characterization of pneumatic fast transfer system of KAMINI reactor for ko-based NAA and validation of method

Full text: For standardization of the ko-based Neutron Activation Analysis (ko-NAA), the Pneumatic Fast Transfer System (PFTS) position at KAMINI reactor, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam was characterized by determining the epithermal neutron flux shape factor (α) and the sub-cadmium to epithermal neutron flux ratio (f). The bare, Cd-ratio and Cd-cover methods were used for determination of α and f(α) using Au (197Au) and Zr (94Zr, 96Zr) monitors. The determined α-value indicated hard epithermal neutron spectrum at PFTS with about 4% epithermal neutron component. The ko-factors for some important nuclides were determined using the experimentally obtained values of f and α for quality assurance purposes. The ko-NAA method was validated by analyzing NIST SRM 1646a (Estuarine Sediment) and BCS Nb-stabilized Stainless Steel (B.C.S./S.S. No.261/1) and the % deviation of elements determined were found to be within ± 10%