Developing a PGNAA setup for heavy metal detection in solid samples

Prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) is a technique that can be used online or in situ to measure the concentrations of different elements in natural materials without altering the elements' chemical forms in matter. The goal of the current work was to use a 2.5 MeV neutron beam to boost the yield of a portable PGNAA (Genie 16) system. Optimizations were performed to reduce the superimposition between gamma rays from the setup’s elements and those from heavy metals. The value of the new optimization was verified by the improvement of the minimum detectable concentrations of sulfur, zinc, titanium, nickel, and chrome in soil samples.