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Utilizing the k0-IAEA program to determine rare earth elements in soil samples from gold-mining areas in Sudan

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Abstract

This study investigates the concentrations and accumulation levels of rare earth elements (REEs) in soil samples collected from gold-mining sites in Sudan in order to study the distribution of REEs and discuss their concentrations around the gold mining areas in Sudan. The presence of REEs was determined through the neutron activation analysis technique. Irradiations have been carried out using the pneumatic tube system (PTS) and rotary specimen rack (RSR) facilities of the Moroccan TRIGA Mark II research reactor. Measurements were made using a well-calibrated HP-Ge detector for energy and efficiency, while SRM–NIST 2586 was used as a reference material to ensure the quality of the obtained results.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the International Atomic Energy Agency for financially supporting this work through the PhD Sandwich Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sudan University of Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan

    Minas E. Ahmed & M. A. Abbo

  2. National Center of Energy, Sciences and Nuclear Techniques (CNESTEN), Rabat, Morocco

    H. Bounouira, H. Amsil, A. Didi & I. Aarab

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  1. Minas E. Ahmed
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  2. H. Bounouira
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  3. M. A. Abbo
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  4. H. Amsil
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Correspondence to H. Bounouira.

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Ahmed, M.E., Bounouira, H., Abbo, M.A. et al. Utilizing the k0-IAEA program to determine rare earth elements in soil samples from gold-mining areas in Sudan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 1707–1721 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08886-5

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