Comparison of 14 MeV neutron activation analysis and competitive methods for determination of oxygen, nitrogen, silicon, fluorine and other elements

14 MeV neutron activation analysis (14 MeV NAA) makes use of small particle accelerators to produce 14 MeV neutrons from the D-T reaction. The neutrons produce radioactive isotopes in samples by the reactions (n,p), (n,2n) and (n,α). Gamma rays emitted are counted to determine the amount of the target element present. Major applications have been determination of total O, N or Si in solid and liquid matrices, but the technique can also be applied to determine concentrations of about 30 other elements including F, Cl, Al, P and Mg. Detection limits are a few micrograms in the best cases and milligrams for most others. The method has advantages of being nondestructive, fast and insensitive to sample inhomogeneities. It lends itself especially well to sequential analysis of the same sample by several techniques and to samples that are difficult to dissolve. Portable generators have been applied to industrial situations and to well logging. Major disadvantages are the necessity to house a radiation producing instrument, the cost of the equipment and the lack of useful neutron reactions for some important elements. Accuracy (typically +-7 to 10% relative) and precision (+-1 to 5% relative) are comparable to competing techniques. For determination of low levels of O and N in most metals inert gas fusion is more rapid and sensitive; elemental analyzer is more sensitive for O and N in organics. Wet chemical methods rarely have any advantage over 14 MeV NAA for solid samples when concentrations are in the detection limit range of the 14 MeV NAA methods. Future developments in the field will come in the areas of simpler, more portable and higher neutron output generator designs. 66 refs