Determination of Rare Earth Elements in Metal Yttrium by INAA

Seven rare earth elements (REE), including La, Ce, Pr, Gd, Ho, Er, and Lu, in metal yttrium are determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The detection limit for each of these elements is estimated. The deterioration in dead time of the counting system caused by the bremsstralung from ~90Y is minimized by absorption of its β~- radiation with appropriate Perspex absorbent. The accuracy of the analytical method is verified by measurement of the reference material GBW-07313. The measured value for each element is in good accordance with its reference value.