Evaluation for Accuracy and Applicability of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of Geological Materials on Nigeria Nuclear Research Reactor-1(NIRR-1)
Funtua I. I., Oladipo M.O.A., Njinga R. L., Jonah S.A., Yusuf I., Ahmed Y.A

Abstract
Evaluation of the composition of some geo-standard reference materials; Fly ash 1633b, SO-2, SARM-1, SARM-52, W-2, DNC-1, BIR-1, AGV-1, IAEA SL-3, and IAEA Soil-7 following instrumental neutron activation analysis on NIRR-1 Nuclear Reactor to ascertain accuracy and applicability of the method in the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria was performed. The results showed an insignificant maximum deviation error of 0.304 to 0.393% in all the geo-standard reference materials. The analysis of 15 elements in all geo-standards observed, provided some level of assurance in analysing geological materials of varying matrices using instrumental thermal neutron activation analysis (ITNAA) on NIRR-1 for some elements. The dendrogram from the cluster analysis of the values for; Mn, Sc, Rb, and Yb revealed no statistically significant difference. These results showed a general agreement between the certified or literature values and those obtained using the present irradiation and counting schemes in CERT for the ten geo-standard reference materials and are thus can be referred to as established elements in geological studies using the present experimental set-up in CERT.

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