Routine Monitoring of Market Infant Foods by Neutron Activation Analysis with a Low-Power Reactor

Abstract Instrumental neutron activation analysis technique with thermal and epithermal neutrons from a 30 kW research reactor has been used to determine the concentration of some essential elements in market infant foods. The elements Ca, Cl, Fe, Mn, Mg, K, Na, V, Zn, Br, and I were found in various proportions in four infant foods widely sold in Nigeria. A comparison of the measured results and producer's quoted values indicates that the adopted experimental procedure can be used routinely for control and monitoring purposes.