The determination of carbon in sodium

The chemical separation of is therefore mandatory to determine carbon in sodium by photon activation, especially since the concentrations are often very low ( 1 9/9). 

This method was initially suggested by Lutz and De Soete (57) and was improved considerably by Nordmann et al. (58)(59)(60)(61). 

The sodium sample, weighing not more than 5 g, is placed in a silica crucible containing 100 mg of sodium carbonate carrier and burnt in oxygen in a closed cup (fused silica container about 1 litre in volume). The content of the latter is treated with 4 M sulphuric acid. The carbon dioxide evolved is trapped on soda asbestos, the activity of which is measured. The separation efficiency is about 90 %.  

This process has been used extensively to determine carbon in sodium purified by filtration. The samples were poured into Pyrex ampoules lined internally with a sheet of aluminium to facilitate recovery. These ampoules, placed in aluminium cartridges, were conveyed through the irradiation device by means of a pneumatic circuit. 

This chemical separation method for has also been used to determine carbon in potassium and in cesium, by photon activation analysis (59)(60) (61)(62). 

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