Radioactive ion detector

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:871093

Bower, Kenneth E ^[1]; Weeks, Donald R ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos, NM
2. Saratoga, CA

Apparatus for detecting the presence, in aqueous media, of substances which emit alpha and/or beta radiation and determining the oxidation state of these radioactive substances, that is, whether they are in cationic or anionic form. In one embodiment, a sensor assembly has two elements, one comprised of an ion-exchange material which binds cations and the other comprised of an ion-exchange material which binds anions. Each ion-exchange element is further comprised of a scintillation plastic and a photocurrent generator. When a radioactive substance to which the sensor is exposed binds to either element and emits alpha or beta particles, photons produced in the scintillation plastic illuminate the photocurrent generator of that element. Sensing apparatus senses generator output and thereby indicates whether cationic species or anionic species or both are present and also provides an indication of species quantity.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: Reents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5656817
• Application Number: 08/608345
• OSTI ID: 871093
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

radioactive
detector
apparatus
detecting
presence
aqueous
media
substances
emit
alpha
beta
radiation
determining
oxidation
cationic
anionic
form
embodiment
sensor
assembly
elements
comprised
ion-exchange
material
binds
cations
anions
element
scintillation
plastic
photocurrent
generator
substance
exposed
emits
particles
photons
produced
illuminate
sensing
senses
output
indicates
species
provides
indication
quantity
current generator
generator output
detector apparatus
change material
aqueous media
exchange material
beta radiation
sensing apparatus
beta particles
ionic species
ion-exchange material
radioactive substances
exchange element
ionic form
radioactive substance
active substance
beta particle
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