title: Evaluation of the washing system efficiency in sugar cane mills by neutron activation analysis.
abstract: The effectiveness of industrial washing operation in minimizing soil in sugar cane delivered to mills is evaluated. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was the nuclear analytical technique chosen for this work, with Fe, Hf, Sc, and Th selected as soil tracers. On the basis of differences between elemental concentration of integral and prepared cane, that is before and after washing, the feasibility of the method for evaluation of the washing efficiency is demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bacchi
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000592:standards*; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D012987:Soil; D014131:Trace Elements