NAA Algerian Laboratory Evaluation Processed by WEPAL and IAEA during 2011-2012

Lylia Hamidatou, Hocine Slamene, Tarik Akhal, Samir Begaa, Mohammed Messaoudi, Zouranen Boussaad

Neutron Activation Analysis Department, Nuclear Research Centre of Birine, Djelfa, Algeria..

DOI: 10.4236/jasmi.2013.34024                

Abstract

Participation in inter-comparison programs is an important process to enhance the accuracy and precision of the analytical techniques used in the laboratories. At Es-Salam Research Reactor, our laboratory uses two functional analytical techniques such as INAA and k₀-INAA in the research projects and for the completion of the service works. Recently, our laboratory has participated in two inter-comparison tests organized by IAEA within the framework of the AFRA project to assess the analytical performance of eighteen (18) African analytical laboratories participating in the RAF/4/ 022 project, Enhancement of Research Reactor Utilization and Safety by taking part in analytical proficiency testing IAEA in conjunction with WEPAL, the Wageningen Evaluating Programs for Analytical Laboratories. The Proficiency Testing tests related to the determination of major, minor and trace elements in materials of the International Soil and Plant Analytical Exchange (Wepal codes ISE, IPE), were held in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, respectively. Concentrations of thirty (30) elements such as Al, As, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Ga, K, La, Mg, Mo, Mn, Na, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sr, Th, Ti, U, V, W, Zn, Zr were determined in ISE and IPE samples. All results were evaluated and reported in this paper.

Keywords

Laboratory; Evaluation; NAA Method; Performance; Accreditation; Proficiency Testing

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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