Development of quantification program for neutron activation analysis

Abstract

This work describes the use of C++ Builder to develop an INAA (Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis) application for the quantification of trace elements mass fractions in samples from different origins using the relative method. Previously, our NAA laboratory relied on classic method, which caused delays in obtaining results, computational mistakes, and reduced productivity. The new application offers an improved interface with standardized actions, decreasing human error accumulation and provides users with rapid results. To evaluate the application, an INAA experiment using a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrophotometer was used to assess the air quality at Draria site in Algiers, by using an active bio-monitoring air pollution method. Therefore; tree barks, mosses, and lichens were used in this study. Samples and standards irradiations were carried out in NUR research reactor with thermal neutrons flux 10¹³ n cm^-2s^-1, and analyzed by gamma spectrometry using HPGe detector. We used the new developed application as well as the old method to calculate concentrations and determined several heavy metals and trace elements (Ba, Br, Co, Cr, Fe, Hf, La, Rb, Sr, Zn, and Ce). Comparison of the obtained preliminary results between the two methods has showed good agreement.