A fluid-based measurement system for airborne radioxenon surveillance
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
- Univ. of Cincinnati, OH (United States)
A new and innovative technique for concentrating heavy noble gases from the atmosphere and subsequently measuring the radioactive xenon isotopes has recently been developed at Argonne National Laboratory. The concentration technique is based on the discovery of a phenomenon where certain organic fluids absorb heavy noble gases with very high efficiency at room temperature and release the noble gases when slightly warmed (about 60{degrees}C). Research has been conducted to study the application of this technology to the design of an ultra sensitive radioxenon measurement system. Such a system could be used to monitor or sample the atmosphere for noble gas fission products ({sup 133}Xe, {sup 133m}Xe, and {sup 135}Xe) generated by nuclear testing. A system that utilizes this fluid-based technology provides a simpler, more portable, less-expensive means of concentrating xenon than current cryogenic techniques and avoids some of the complications associated with charcoal-based systems. Preliminary experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing this fluid-based technology in the design of an atmospheric radioxenon measurement have been very promising and research is continuing toward applying this technology to monitoring activities which support the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 561230
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/RA/CP-94335; CONF-970967-; ON: DE97054143; TRN: 98:008713
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Research symposium on monitoring a comprehensive test ban treaty, Orlando, FL (United States), 23-25 Sep 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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