Determination of Fluorine in Geological Material by Photon Activation and Radiochemical Separation

Abstract
The determination of fluorine in geological material by photon activation analysis based on the 19F(γ, n)18F reaction is described. After irradiation fluorine is separated by steam distillation of hexafluorosilicic acid and precipitation as CeF3. Labelling of the cerium reagent solution by 141Ce enables a simple correction of separation losses. The method was applied to the ZGI standard rock granite GM.