ANALYTICAL TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

Proton Activation Analysis Using AIC-144 Cyclotron

as a Tool for Trace Element Analysis
A.K. Wójcik1,2, B. Wąs3, M. Szałkowski4, J.W. Mietelski5

Department of Nuclear Physical Chemistry, The Henryk Niewodniczański Institute

of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342 Kraków,
POLAND, 1anna.wojcik@ifj.edu.pl, 3bogdan.was@ifj.edu.pl,
4mirosław.szałkowski@ifj.edu.pl, 5jerzy.mietelski@ifj.edu.pl
2Faculty of Physic and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and
Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, POLAND

Abstract
Proton Activation Analysis (PAA) is a sensitive analytical technique. It is useful for per-
forming both qualitative and quantitative multi-element analysis of major, minor and trace
elements. To avoid some problems with normalization and stability of beam flux we propose
to use rotating target holder. This solution ensure the same irradiation conditions for all sam-
ples. The method was tested using KI solutions irradiated with protons accelerated up to the
energy of 60 MeV in AIC - 144 isochronous cyclotron. Measurements of signal from 123I
(159 keV gamma line) performed using high resolution gamma - ray detector allow to obtain
the calibration curve and determine the detection limit in specific irradiation conditions. The
detection limit of activated samples can be improve by separation of 7Be which is produced
in spallation reactions from 16O commonly presents in aqueous solutions.
Key words: Proton Activation Analysis, trace element analysis

Introduction tion analysis is the stability of activation

Activation analysis is a pretty well
known analytical technique used for detec-
tion of major, minor and trace elements in
geological, environmental, biological sam-
ples in ppb-ppm range without or with chem-
ical separation. In this method the nuclei of
the sample, exposed to a suitable radiation
field, are activated and then a subsequent or
simultaneous measurement of the secondary
particles emitted, in particular gamma - rays,
is performed. Neutron, photon or charged
particles can be used as incident radiation.
This analytical technique provides both qual-
itative and quantitative analysis. Proton acti-
vation analysis (PAA) complements the neu-
tron activation analysis (NAA), which is the
most popular among activation techniques.
PAA is not as common as neutron activation
analysis since it is consider to be more expen-
sive. Moreover, due to the complexity of acti-
vation system (presence of secondary neu-
trons, possibilities of (p,xn) reactions etc.) the
results in general may be difficult to inter-
pret. However, in some cases it seems to be a
promising and prospective technique for
trace element analysis.
One of the most important problem in
all quantitative technique is normalization.
The relative measurement appears to be the
simplest method to avoid such problems.
Nonetheless a key question in case of activa-
flux. Ensuring the same irradiation condi-
tions for each of irradiating samples not
always can be easy to perform and some-
times requires some sophisticated resorts.
Materials and Methods
Our solution is based on rotating target
holder thanks to which samples and stan-
dards situated in plastic vials are activated
simultaneously (Fig.1).
AIC-144 isochronous cyclotron -
designed and constructed at The Niewod-
niczański Institute of Nuclear Physic Polish
Academy of Science - can accelerate protons
up to energy of 60 MeV (internal proton cur-
rent in the range of a few µA) (Bakiewicz at
al., 2003). Such energy is sufficient for (p,5n)
reaction needed to obtain 123I (T1/2=13,27
h) from stable 127I.
A preliminary analysis was undertaken
to identify the possible channel reactions
leading to the production of radionuclides.
Particular consideration was given to the
magnitude of the reaction cross sections and
to the energy of the incident protons corre-
sponding to the maximum yield. Possible
candidate reactions are listed in Table 1.
123I produced as a result of the decay of
123Xe nuclei can be detected using high res-
olution gamma - ray spectrometer. In this
work gamma spectra were collected using

230 15th ICHMET

 ANALYTICAL TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

the curve, in this work, the use of proton acti-

vation analysis allowed us to reach the detec-
tion limit of I-123 on the level of 10-5 M.

Conclusion
Introduction of radiochemical analyses
can improve the detection limit significantly
since at present the main limitation is due to
Compton effect from 7Be (Eγ = 478 keV,
10.52%) line.Beryllium - 7 is produced in
target aqueous solutions by 16O (p,
spall)7Be reactions (Kolsky and Mausner,
1998). Separation and removal of beryllium
from activated sample seems to be the most
important question of the present work.
Figure.1. Rotating target holder with sam-
ples irradiated by external proton beam from
AIC - 144 cyclotron.

HPGe planar detector connected to multi-

channel buffer card (Silena, Milano, model
8332). Our set-up was tested using KI solu-
tions in the range from 10-1 M to 10-7 M.
Samples were prepared by successive dilu-
tion and each of the plastic vial has con-
tained 6 ml of KI solution. The rotating tar-
get holder supporting up to 8 samples is
mounted at the end of beam line. As the disk
rotates, each sample is brought in front of
the beam spot just for the time resulting
from the rotation speed (about 60 rpm). The
external beam current during irradiation
amounted to 20 nA. In turn, the irradiation Figure 2. Calibration curve obtained from
time hasn't crossed 1 hour. Measurements measurements of irradiated KI solutions.
were performed after 18 hours of the cooling
time and lasted 0.5 h for each of the samples. Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank their col-
Results and Discussion leagues of the AIC - 144 cyclotron for help
Fig. 2 shows calibration curve obtained with irradiation and positioning of the rotat-
during initial stage of our trials. It describes ing target holder.
relationship between the counts deriving from
I-123 radionuclide (which has relatively short References
half-life and decays via EC; its gamma spec- Bakiewicz E, Budzanowski A,
trum shows only one intense line correspon- Taraszkiewicz A. AIC-144 cyclotron: present sta-
ding to gamma quanta of energy 159 keV tus. Nukleonika 2003; 48 (Suppl. 2): 117 - 121.
(83 %) and molar concentration of potassium Kolsky KL, Mausner LF. Production of No-
iodide both for theoretical points and those carier-added 7Be from Target Cooling Water.
obtained in measurements. As we see from Appl. Radiat. Isot. 1998; 49: 1489 - 1492.

Table 1. Proton reactions on I and O isotopes considered in this study

15th ICHMET 231