A radiochemical neutron activation analysis method for the determination of tin, arsenic, copper and antimony for the forensic comparison of bullet lead specimens

Trace element characterization of bullet lead by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) is hampered by the high spectral background due to antimony, normally present in high concentration in bullet lead. Tin is indicated to be a very useful element for characterization purposes. Beta-active 121Sn is a suitable nuclide for quantitation of tin provided it is separated in high radiochemical purity. A radiochemical procedure capable of determining tin down to 10 ppm in bullet lead, a sequential procedure for its determination along with copper, arsenic and antimony and the application of this procedure for the determination of the contents of these elements in various bullet leads are described. This method has been applied to a 'Rhinoceros shoot-out' case, referred to the authors' laboratory. (author)