Neutron Activation Analysis, Atomic Absorption and X‐Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Review for 2004–2005

Abstract

These technologically mature techniques occupied a stable to modestly increasing sector of the spectrum of analytical methods in Earth and environmental sciences in 2004–5. Despite this, several notable advances were reported in this two year period. In the field of X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry, these included the development of portable synchrotron and total reflection instruments, the use of pyroelectric crystals as X‐ray generators, introduction of high‐purity Ge detector arrays, and the development of an XRF imaging spectrometer with the capability of mapping analytes and X‐ray intensity ratio. Atomic absorption s spectrometry saw major work published on high‐resolution continuum source AAS (HR‐CS AAS) involving the development of a xenon short‐arc lamp. Other advances included the use of laser wave mixing in a graphite furnace tube (with a claimed detection limit of 10– 16 g g‐ 1 ), solid sampling and ultrasound in sample preparation. Neutron activation analysis saw two innovations that may herald future growth in this technique, namely a neutron source free of a nuclear reactor and a detector operating at room temperature.