A novel approach to aluminum determination in biological tissues using a pair of pneumatic tube irradiation facilities

A novel method for the determination of trace aluminum (AI) in the presence of high levels of phosphorus (P) has been developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). Using successive irradiations in HFIR's two pneumatic tube facilities (PT-1, PT-2) to measure the difference between the two apparent Al concentrations, the true Al concentration in the sample can be calculated without the need for an independent determination of P. Results are presented for brain samples from various regions, some that are strongly affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD) and for NIST SRM 1577b, Bovine Liver.