Detecting low levels of radionuclides in fluids

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:873281

Patch, Keith D ^[1]; Morgan, Dean T ^[2]

---

1. Lexington, MA
2. Sudbury, MA

An apparatus and method for detecting low levels of one or more radionuclides in a fluid sample uses a substrate that includes an ion exchange resin or other sorbent material to collect the radionuclides. A collecting apparatus includes a collecting chamber that exposes the substrate to a measured amount of the fluid sample such that radionuclides in the fluid sample are collected by the ion exchange resin. A drying apparatus, which can include a drying chamber, then dries the substrate. A measuring apparatus measures emissions from radionuclides collected on the substrate. The substrate is positioned in a measuring chamber proximate to a detector, which provides a signal in response to emissions from the radionuclides. Other analysis methods can be used to detect non-radioactive analytes, which can be collected with other types of sorbent materials.

• Research Organization: BECHTEL NATIONAL INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-91OR21949
• Assignee: Thermo Power Corporation (Waltham, MA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6126901
• OSTI ID: 873281
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

detecting
levels
radionuclides
fluids
apparatus
method
fluid
sample
substrate
exchange
resin
sorbent
material
collect
collecting
chamber
exposes
measured
amount
collected
drying
dries
measuring
measures
emissions
positioned
proximate
detector
provides
signal
response
analysis
methods
detect
non-radioactive
analytes
types
materials
measuring chamber
analysis methods
drying chamber
fluid sample
exchange resin
sorbent material
analysis method
apparatus measures
collecting apparatus
sorbent materials
measuring apparatus
measured amount
drying apparatus
/422/436/