Portable spotter for fluorescent contaminants on surfaces

Patent · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:863567

Schuresko, Daniel D ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge, TN

A portable fluorescence-based spotter for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon contamination on personnel and work area surfaces under ambient lighting conditions is provided. This instrument employs beam modulation and phase sensitive detection for discriminating between fluorescence from organic materials from reflected background light and inorganic fluorescent material. The device uses excitation and emission filters to provide differentiation between classes of aromatic organic compounds. Certain inorganic fluorescent materials, including heavy metal compounds, may also be distinguished from the organic compounds, despite both having similar optical properties.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4200801
• OSTI ID: 863567
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/250/
ambient
ambient light
aromatic
aromatic hydrocarbon
aromatic organic
background
background light
beam
carbon contamination
compounds
conditions
contaminants
contamination
despite
detection
device
differentiation
discriminating
distinguished
emission
employs
excitation
filters
fluorescence
fluorescence-based
fluorescent
fluorescent material
heavy
heavy metal
hydrocarbon
including
inorganic
instrument
light
lighting
material
materials
metal
metal compound
metal compounds
modulation
optical
optical properties
organic
organic compound
organic compounds
organic material
organic materials
personnel
phase
phase sensitive
polynuclear
polynuclear aromatic
portable
properties
provide
provided
reflected
sensitive
sensitive detection
similar
similar optical
spotter
surfaces