Abstract
A method has been developed for the determination of microgram quantities of copper, arsenic, and antimony in pure phosphorus by neutron activation analysis. The sample (0.2 g) irradiated for 20 min. in JRR-2 pneumatic tube (neutron flux : 8×1013 n/cm2·sec.) was dissolved with nitric acid after addition of 10 mg each of copper, arsenic, and antimony as the carriers. The three elements were removed from phosphorus as sulfides and separated mutually by anion exchange chromatography. Radioactivities were measured by a gas-follow counter and a γ-ray spectrometer. The mean chemical yields were 86% for copper, 85% for arsenic and 79% for antimony. As little as 7×10-4 μg of copper, 5×10-4 μg of arsenic and 9×10-4 μg of antimony could be determined.
