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PROTON INDUCED GAMMA-RAY ANALYSIS OF ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS FOR CARBON, NITROGEN, AND SULFUR COMPOSITION
Citation:
Macias, E., C. Radcliffe, C. Lewis, AND C. Sawicki. PROTON INDUCED GAMMA-RAY ANALYSIS OF ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS FOR CARBON, NITROGEN, AND SULFUR COMPOSITION. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-78/158 (NTIS PB80128358), 1978.
Description:
A technique for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur using in-beam gamma-ray spectrometry has been developed for use with atmospheric aerosol samples. Samples are collected on quartz filters, and the aerosol composition is determined by analyzing the gamma-rays emitted following the inelastic scattering of 7.3-MeV protons. Samples are nondestructively irradiated for 1000 s in a helium atmosphere, are not subjected to reduced pressures, and can be used for subsequent analysis. Detection limits for atmospheric sampls are in the microgram per sq cm range with a precision of 5%. The technique is compared with several more conventional methods of analysis. (Copyright (c) 1978 by the American Chemical Society.)