| 2022-TALE-69716 | |
| Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new method to remove radon isotopes and their decay chain products and detect alpha-emitting actinides (plutonium and uranium isotopes) in air. Alpha-emitting actinides have negative health consequences; they are 1000-10,000 more harmful than radon gas, which is also radioactive. Current methods to detect alpha-emitting actinides in air suffer from low detection efficiency and lengthy detection times and can be overwhelmed by background radiation. The Purdue technology functions at a 10 times faster rate and with approximately 100% intrinsic alpha & neutron detection efficiency while remaining 100% blind to background (gamma-beta and radon-related) radiation. Technology Validation: For each of the four plutonium-239 : plutonium-240 ratios tested, the method predicted the most likely ratio compositions. Also, the method accurately classified 90% of the mixtures tested in the experiments. Related Publication: Hemesath, M., Boyle, N., Archambault, B., Lorier, T., DiPrete, D., Taleyarkhan, R. (2022). Actinide in Air (Rn-Progeny Rejected) Alpha Spectroscopy with Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detectors. Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science, Vol. 8/022001-1-to-9, April 2022. Advantages - Efficient - Accurate Applications - Continuous air monitors with Rn rejection - Spectroscopic alpha-neutron detection in extreme (to 15,000 R/h) background gamma-beta radiation fields. |
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Jan 20, 2023
Utility-Gov. Funding
United States
(None)
(None)
Jan 20, 2022
Provisional-Gov. Funding
United States
(None)
(None)
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Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization The Convergence Center 101 Foundry Drive, Suite 2500 West Lafayette, IN 47906 Phone: (765) 588-3475 Fax: (765) 463-3486 Email: otcip@prf.org |
