Multielement analysis of natural waters by neutron activation, group chemical separations, and gamma-ray spectrometric techniques

A multielement analytical technique of thermal neutron activation of frozen water samples has been developed and applied to the studies of natural waters. A rapid group chemical separation utilizing ion exchange resins and a precipitation step to reduce super(24)Na and super(42)K interferences, followed by gamma -ray analysis of the fractions with Ge (Li) and multiparamter Nal (Tl) systems, permits the simultaneous measurement of a large number of trace constituents. Samples of river water, rain water, processed sewage water and Greenland ice were analyzed for 19 trace elements- Ag, As, Br, Cl, Co, Cs, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, U, and Zn. These data have been used in studied of trace element concentration factors in aquatic biota, precipitation scavenging processes, and environmental pollution.