NAA Methodology for the Certification of Eight Trace Elements in a Plankton Reference Material

Abstract

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) methodology was applied for the certification of eight trace elements (As, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Se, and Zn) in a plankton reference material (CRM 414) prepared by the BCR of the Commission of the European Communities. Average concentrations (µg/g dry wt) and standard deviations found in plankton for the eight trace elements were as follows: As 6.29 ± 0.19, Co 1.37 ± 0.05, Cr 23.7 ± 0.56, Cu 27.1 ± 0.88, Hg 0.29 ± 0.02, Mn 285 ± 4.1, Se 1.62 ± 0.10, and Zn 114 ± 3.4. All values found were to be in very good agreement (0.5%–8.1%) with certified values.