Determination of boron in in-house graphite reference material by instrumental charged particle activation analysis

Due to high thermal neutron absorption cross-section, boron (B) content is a binding specification for nuclear grade graphite. Reliable analytical methods are essential to determine boron at trace to ultra-trace levels. Analytical Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India has prepared an in-house graphite reference material (GRM). A Charged particle activation analysis methodology has been developed for quantification of B in graphite matrix. Detection limit for boron using this methodology is 1.4 mg kg−1. This in-house GRM can be used for quantification of B in unknown graphite samples, validating existing analytical methods and for the development of new analytical methods.