title: Radiochemical neutron activation analysis in the life sciences. A look back and ahead.
abstract: The contribution of radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RCNAA) to a better understanding of trace element analytics and physiology in the life sciences is outlined. Now, various non-nuclear powerful techniques for trace element analysis have become available, competing with RCNAA. This necessitates re-evaluation of the position of RCNAA, in particular versus inductively coupled plasma--mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). On basis of the characteristic features of RCNAA and the capabilities of various competing non-nuclear analytical techniques, future niches for RCNAA in the analytical market are indicated.
authors.affiliation: Interfaculty Reactor Institute, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: de Goeij
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cornelis
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D011854:Radiochemistry; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements