Activation Analysis of Antimony in Tin Based on an Internal-Monitor Method using Thermal Neutrons

Abstract

Abstract An internal-monitor method proposed previously has been applied to the determination of trace amounts of antimony in tin by activation with thermal neutrons. After the antimony activity is chemically separated from the irradiated sample, the γ-ray spectrum corresponding to a mixture of 124Sb and 125Sb formed by the β− decay of 125m,125Sn is measured. Synthetic mixtures of antimony and tin with known weight ratios have been prepared to check the accuracy of the method. Good proportionality has been obtained between the ratios of the 124Sb to 125Sb activities and the ratios of the concentrations. By using this relationship, antimony analysis can easily be carried out. The content of antimony in a sample of tin down to 0.2 ppm can be determined with a relative error of ±2%.