The capabilities of prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGAA) are examined for fullerene samples. As shown PGAA is a promising instrumental technique for the determination of the light elements of the periodic table. These elements (C, H, O, N and B) were inaccessible by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) as done by the authors in previous publications. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.