Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of Selected Elements in Thai Jasmine Rice

Abstract

Thai jasmine rice (Khao Dawk Mali 105) grown from different cultivation areas within Tung Kula Rong Hai zone in the northeast of Thailand was studied. The essential (Mn and K) and toxic elements (As and Br) in rice samples were determine using instrumental neutron activation analysis under the irradiation and counting facilities available at the Thai Research Reactor with thermal neutron flux of 1.8 x 109 cm-2 s-1 at the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology in Bangkok. The Rice Flour (1568a) certified reference material was simultaneously analyzed with the rice samples, the results shown a reliability and reproducibility of this method. Detection limits were obtained in the range of 0.01–1.44 mg kg-1. The results revealed that the rice samples accumulate the elements at different concentrations. The essential elements including Mn and K are present in significant concentrations. Toxic elements (As and Br) are shown at trace levels.