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A non-destructive analytical technique for low level detection of praseodymium using epithermal neutron activation analysis and compton suppression gamma-ray spectroscopy

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Abstract

When NAA is used to analyze geological samples a common issue arises in which certain radioisotopes produce gamma-ray peaks and Compton plateaus that ultimately overshadow the peaks of interest. This is the case when analyzing geological samples for trace concentrations of the rare earth element praseodymium. We report for the first time the determination of the rare earth element praseodymium using the 141Pr(n,γ)142Pr reaction with its only single 1575.6 keV gamma ray and 19.12 h half-life using a 5–10 min epithermal neutron irradiation and Compton suppressed gamma-ray spectroscopy. Preliminary results using this method have shown a minimum detectable concentration of 5 μg/g.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Road, Building 159, Austin, TX, 78758, USA

    M. B. Stokley & S. Landsberger

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  1. M. B. Stokley
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  2. S. Landsberger
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Correspondence to M. B. Stokley.

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Stokley, M.B., Landsberger, S. A non-destructive analytical technique for low level detection of praseodymium using epithermal neutron activation analysis and compton suppression gamma-ray spectroscopy. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 318, 369–373 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6071-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6071-2

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