Determination of palladium by chemical neutron activation analysis using low energy photon spectrometry

Abstract

A chemical neutron activation analysis method to determine trace amounts of palladium present in the uranium ores has been developed. Palladium was concentrated on an anionic exchanger to purify from large amounts of uranium, iron and copper that were present in the ore. The resin in which Pd was adsorbed was neutron irradiated and the activation product109Pd was assayed through its daughter109mAg by low energy photon spectrometry to estimate palladium. Both the 88 keV gamma-line and the 22 keV X-ray line (arising out of the internal transition of109mAg) were used to arrive at the concentration values by a standard comparison technique. A thin window Si(Li) detector and an HPGe detector were used for the radioactive assay. Detection limits and the advantage of using the X-ray line of Ag over that of the gamma-line were discussed. An absolute detection limit of 0.12·10−9 g could be arrived at by the use of the 22.10 keV X-ray line in an interference-free condition.