Elimination of sodium-24 and potassium-42 interferences in activation analysis of biological samples.

We have developed a simple novel column technique for the removal of sodium-24 and potassium-42 based on a heterogeneous isotopic exchange reaction between an organic eluting solution (acetone-hydrochloric acid) and fine crystals of sodium chloride or potassium chloride or their analogs. The technique is fast, efficient, and highly selective; it has been successfully applied to irradiated human tissues prior to gamma-ray spectrometry with lithium-drifted germanium detectors.