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Low-background neutron activation analysis: a powerful tool for atmospheric mineral dust analysis in ice cores

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Abstract

The application of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for multi-elemental analysis of samples of extremely reduced mass such as dust samples extracted from ice cores requires specific efforts towards the development of a “low level counting” analytical technique. An analytical protocol specifically designed for this kind of samples, based on low-background INAA (LBNAA) is here presented. A first application of the method was successfully performed on samples from the new alpine firn core NextData-LYS12. Sub-ng detection limits were reached for many elements. According to this point the technique is also potentially suitable to be applied to polar ice core samples.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the LENA staff for their precious support during irradiations and the Commission V of the INFN for the funding to TELMA Experiment. This work is a contribution to the Project of Interest NextData, a national system for the retrieval, storage, access and diffusion of environmental and climate data from mountain and marine areas, funded by PNR (Programma Nazionale per la Ricerca) and coordinated by CNR (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche).

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Author notes

  1. Niccolò Maffezzoli

    Present address: Centre for Ice and Climate, Niels Bohr Institute, Juliane Maries Vej, 30, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School in Polar Sciences, University of Siena, via Laterina 8, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Giovanni Baccolo

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 1, 20126, Milan, Italy

    Giovanni Baccolo, Barbara Delmonte & Valter Maggi

  3. INFN, Section of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 3, 20126, Milan, Italy

    Giovanni Baccolo, Niccolò Maffezzoli, Massimiliano Clemenza, Valter Maggi & Ezio Previtali

  4. Department of Physics “G. Occhialini”, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza, 3, 20126, Milan, Italy

    Niccolò Maffezzoli, Massimiliano Clemenza & Ezio Previtali

  5. Laboratorio Energia Nucleare Applicata (L.E.N.A) of the University of Pavia, Via Aselli 41, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Michele Prata & Andrea Salvini

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  1. Giovanni Baccolo
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Correspondence to Massimiliano Clemenza.

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Baccolo, G., Maffezzoli, N., Clemenza, M. et al. Low-background neutron activation analysis: a powerful tool for atmospheric mineral dust analysis in ice cores. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 306, 589–597 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4206-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4206-2

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