Platinum determination by instrumental neutron activation analysis with special reference to the spectral interference of Sc-47 on the platinum indicator nuclide Au-199

A method of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) is developed for the determination of platinum by the 199Au daughter of 199Pt in the presence of the spectral interference from the 47Sc daughter of 47Ca. The contributions of the Pt and Ca signals to the integral 157–161 keV peak were separated by calculating the number of disintegrations due to the 47Sc from the signal of her parent 47Ca at 1297.1 keV γ-ray. The method was used to calculate the trace concentrations of Pt in air samples, collected on filters.