Platinum determination by instrumental neutron activation analysis with special reference to the spectral interference of Sc-47 on the platinum indicator nuclide Au-199

Abstract A method of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) is developed for the determination of platinum by the 199 Au daughter of 199 Pt in the presence of the spectral interference from the 47 Sc daughter of 47 Ca. The contributions of the Pt and Ca signals to the integral 157–161 keV peak were separated by calculating the number of disintegrations due to the 47 Sc from the signal of her parent 47 Ca at 1297.1 keV γ -ray. The method was used to calculate the trace concentrations of Pt in air samples, collected on filters.