Radioactive ion detector

Patent · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1996

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
• 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

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