Abstract
A method is described for the quantitative determination of copper in biological tissues by neutron activation analysis. Samples were irradiated for 180 min in a thermal neutron flux of 8 × 10 11 n cm −2 sec −1. The activated samples were digested in 90% nitric acid in the presence of 10 mg of copper carrier. Copper was separated from interfering nuclides by constant voltage electroplating in an apparatus constructed to plate 10 samples simultaneously on cylindrical platinum electrodes. The electrodes were then counted for the 0.51 MeV positron annihilation radiation of 64Cu using two 5 inch NaI (Tl) crystals with inputs to a 400 channel pulse height analyzer. Plating yields were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. With the plating time limited to 45 minutes good quality and optimum plating yields of 90 to 100% were obtained at 2.5 V. Not including plating yield determinations and with counting times limited to 10 min, 30 samples containing not less than 0.01 μg of copper can be run in one day's work by one technician with good precision and accuracy. The method has been successfully applied to bone, liver, serum, fingernails and hair.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call