Comparison of INAA and RNAA Methods with Thermal-Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Iridium Determinations in Atmospheric Tracer Studies

The sensitivity and precision of instrumental neutron activation analysis (NAA), radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA), and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) are compared for the determination of Ir in ambient size-fractionated aerosol particulate samples. The results of the TIMS analyses indicated high analytical precision (0.2% at >50 pg Ir), but the sensitivity of detection was limited by blank values (300–500 fg). The sensitivities for INAA and RNAA were comparable, i.e., 60 to 90 fg in size-segregated particulate samples.