Determination of the hydrogen content of oil samples from Nigeria using an Am–Be neutron source

A 5 Ci Am--Be neutron source-based facility, which utilises the principles of thermal neutron reflection technique in combination with foil activation method, has been used to determine the total hydrogen content of commercial oil samples from Nigeria. With an established detection limit of 0.25 H wt% for oil matrix of volume 600 ml, the total hydrogen contents of the samples were found to be in the range of 11.11--14.22 H wt%. The facility is economical and suitable for the determination of moisture in solid samples.