Advantages and Limitations:

NAA is now a routinely employed analytical method because of following advantages:

• Universal applicability for major, minor and trace element analysis in a wide range of matrices for up to 60 elements.
• Virtual absence of any blank or chemical interference.
• High specificity and low detection limits for many elements.
• Non-destructive and multielemental character.
• Radiochemical NAA, though destructive, provides interference free determination in low detection limits.
• Requirement of only a few mg amount of sample for analysis. Despite these advantages, NAA has many limitations as follows:
• Requires nuclear reactor which makes it less accessible and cost effective.
• Long turn around time especially for long lived radionuclides.
• No information on chemical speciation as NAA provides total element concentration.
• Some environmentally important elements such as Pb, Tl, Ni and low Z elements (H, C, N, etc.) cannot be determined.
• It cannot be automated or only partial automation possible after irradiation.