Determination of concentrations of trace elements in nuclear grade graphite by charged particle activation analysis

Abstract

A programme has been undertaken to develop an in-house standard reference material of graphite using various analytical techniques including nuclear techniques like charged particle activation analysis (CPAA) and neutron activation analysis (NAA). The concentrations of 13 elemental impurities viz Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Sr, Zr, Mo have been determined at mg kg−1 to μg kg−1 levels in graphite by CPAA through instrumental approach using 13 and 18 MeV proton beam from cyclotron at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata. The analytical results of CPAA have been validated by analyzing the same graphite samples by instrumental NAA. The validation of our analytical results has also been performed by the Z-score tests through the determination of concentrations of the elements of interest in a certified reference material (CRM) taking another CRM as standard. The experimental detection limits of all elements determined in graphite material by CPAA are also reported.