Determination of trace level vanadium in marine biological samples by chemical neutron activation analysis
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Abstract
A preirradiation chemistry neutron activation analysis procedure employing cation-exchange chromatography in described for the determination of trace level V in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), white shrimp (Penaeus setiferus), and oysters (Crassostrea virginica). The procedure, utilizing a low-power nuclear reactor (.approx. 1 times 1011 n/cm2-s), consists of wet digestion of the sample, cation-exchange chromtography employing HNO3 wash to remove the major contaminants (Na and Cl ions) which can be radioactivated, ammonium hydroxide elution to remove V from the resin and neutron irradiation and radioassay for 52V. The limit of detection of the method is 30 ppb. The determinations of the V content on NBS (National Bureau of Standards) Standard Reference Material 1571 Orchard Leaves resulted in a value of 0.60 +- 0.02 ppm. Determinations of the V content in shrimp, crab, and oyster (SD .ltoreq. 5%) from 4 sites off and near Galveston Island, Texas, USA, showed that the V content is greater in samples from the industrialized areas than from a nonindustrialized section.