Rare Earth Element Mass Analyzer
- Physical Optics Corp., Torrance, CA (United States)
The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking instrumentation to aid in the detection and isolation of rare earth elements (REEs) from coal and coal by-products. To address this need, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposed and, in Phase I, demonstrated the feasibility of a novel Rare Earth Element Mass Analyzer (REEMA) that is capable of laser ablating materials of interest and providing chemical analysis in a compact field portable device. Specifically, we demonstrated the feasibility through positive identification of single atomic ions by laser ablation at a sample site and transport through a custom vacuum system for use in a mass spectrometer device. As a result, we envision REEMA to enable the needed portable field application of REEs detection as they are important in manufacturing high-tech products such as electronics, chemical catalysts, ceramic materials, high strength alloys, and advanced detectors. Currently, laboratory analysis is used to provide the highest quality data possible; however, the measurements are costly to obtain and require intensive sample preparation and analysis time. REEMA will eliminate the limitation and is sought for on-site field and in-process REE identification over a wide range of concentrations.
- Research Organization:
- Physical Optics Corp., Torrance, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0017737
- OSTI ID:
- 1429114
- Type / Phase:
- SBIR (Phase I)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-POC-0017737; 10104
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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