An automated activation analysis system

An automated delayed neutron counting and instrumental neutron activation analysis system has been developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory's Omega West Reactor (OWR) to analyze samples for uranium and 31 additional elements with a maximum throughput of 400 samples per day. The system and its mode of operation for a large reconnaissance survey will be described.     

An automated facility for neutron activation analysis

A fully automated neutron activation analysis (NAA) facility has been constructed at the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment. This high-capacity facility has been designed for use with a wide variety of neutron sources, including Canada's SLOWPOKE II and MAPLE research reactors. Its pneumatic transfer system is driven by a Square-D Model 500 programmable controller, linked in turn to a Nuclear Data ND6700 computer/spectrometer. Custom software for data entry and system control has been combined with Nuclear Data software for gamma-spectrum acquisition and processing to create a flexible, easy-to-use facility for NAA. Its design and performance are discussed.     

An automated activation analysis data acquisition system

An automated neutron activation analysis data acquisition system has been assembled from commercially available equipment. The modifications of the components needed to make this into a working system are described in the text. The main components of the data acquisition system are a sample changer, a Ge(Li) detector, a magnetic tape deck and a minicomputer based multichannel analyzer. The sample changer has a 200-sample capacity and can handle both solid and liquid samples. Software for controlling the data acquisition system is flexible, yet simple to use. The system has operated reliably for a year and has sharply reduced the effort needed for data acquisition.     

An automated gamma-ray counting system for fast neutron activation analysis

An automated gamma-ray counting system was designed and built for use in counting long-lived nuclides (T>hr) produced during analysis by fast neutron activation. The system is mechanically simple, vet interfaced to sophisticated control and counting equipment for completely automated counting.     

Determination of palladium in gasoline by neutron activation analysis and automated column extraction

Palladium in gasoline was determined by means of neutron activation analysis (NAA) and selective sorbent extraction. Unleaded gasoline consistent with DIN EN 228, RON 95 was irradiated at a thermal neutron flux of phith = 1.68 x 10(13)s(-1)cm(-2) and an epithermal neutron flux of 3.32 x 10(11)s(-1)cm(-2) for t(irr) = 12 h. The irradiated gasoline was digested with nitric acid and palladium was then separated as N,N-diethyl-N'-benzoylthiourea complex by an automated column pre-concentration procedure. The eluate of 50 microL was dried on a filter paper and the 88.03 keV photons resulting from the decay of 109Pd were detected in a low level HPGe spectrometer with an efficiency of 35.5%. Severe interferences with other matrix constituents, especially 82Br could be overcome and the detection limit for palladium was improved to 3.4 ng/L at a confidence level of 90%. Although the analytical procedure applied yielded the lowest detection limit for palladium obtained in gasoline up to now, no indications for the presence of palladium were found.     

Determination of palladium in gasoline by neutron activation analysis and automated column extraction

^? Palladium in gasoline was determined by means of neutron activation analysis (NAA) and selective sorbent extraction. Unleaded gasoline consistent with DIN EN 228, RON 95 was irradiated at a thermal neutron flux of Φ_th = 1.68 · 10¹³s^–1cm^–2 and an epithermal neutron flux of 3.32 · 10¹¹s^–1cm^–2 for t_irr = 12 h. The irradiated gasoline was digested with nitric acid and palladium was then separated as N,N-diethyl-N’-benzoylthiourea complex by an automated column pre-concentration procedure. The eluate of 50 μL was dried on a filter paper and the 88.03 keV photons resulting from the decay of ¹⁰⁹Pd were detected in a low level HPGe spectrometer with an efficiency of 35.5%. Severe interferences with other matrix constituents, especially ⁸²Br could be overcome and the detection limit for palladium was improved to 3.4 ng/L at a confidence level of 90%. Although the analytical procedure applied yielded the lowest detection limit for palladium obtained in gasoline up to now, no indications for the presence of palladium were found.     

autoDIAS: a python tool for an automated distortion/interaction activation strain analysis

The distortion/interaction activation strain (DIAS) analysis is a powerful tool for the investigation of energy barriers. However, setup and data analysis of such a calculation can be cumbersome and requires lengthy intervention of the user. We present autoDIAS, a python tool for the automated setup, performance, and data extraction of the DIAS analysis, including automated detection of fragments and relevant geometric parameters. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

An automated system for activation analysis with short half-life radionuclides using a carbonfiber irradiation facility

Contamination of rabbits during transfer in a fast irradiation facility has been reduced by development of a rabbit system containing no metal parts, and only plastic and carbonfiber. As a result, this system could be automated and has been equipped with a sample changer. Flexibility and versatility in the operation of this new system was attained by a combination of software and hardware control. With this new system, large-scale analysis can be performed with a considerable saving in man-power of the users.     

SurfinPES: Performing automated analysis of activation strain,energy decomposition,and reaction force

Analyzing activation strain, energy decomposition, and reaction force models is crucial for studying chemical reactivity and gaining quantitative insights into the factors that control energy barriers. However, manually preparing and processing the necessary data can be challenging and prone to errors. To address this issue, we introduce SurfinPES, a Python-based module in Eyringpy that automates data extraction and processing for these analyses. SurfinPES also allows monitoring of the evolution of primitive properties (geometrical and electronic) along the reaction coordinate. The module is user-friendly with a simple input format, making it accessible to any user in the field of computational chemistry.     

Some problems concerning the use of automated radiochemical separation systems in destructive neutron activation analysis

The present state of a long term program is reviewed. It was started to elaborate a remote controlled automated radiochemical processing system for the neutron activation analysis of biological materials. The system is based on wet ashing of the sample, followed by reactive desorption of some volatile components. The distillation residue is passed through a series of columns filled with selective ion screening materials to remove the matrix activity. The solution is thus “stripped” from the interfering radioions, and it is processed to single-elements through group separations using ion-exchange chromatographic techniques. Some special problems concerning this system are treated. (a) General aspects of the construction of a (semi)automated radiochemical processing system are discussed; (b) Comparison is made between various technical realizations of the same basic concept; (c) Some problems concerning the “reconstruction” of an already published processing system are outlined.     

An automated neutron activation system for short-lived nuclides

The present paper describes an attempt to create a reliable and easy to use system for neutron activation with short-lived nuclides, suitable to be used with several irradiation and counting procedures in instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) at the Portuguese Research Reactor. This system can become very useful for a large community within LNETI, as well as other national institutes and universities, particularly for those involved in studies where the analysis of a large number of samples is required. Selenium determination has been performed, through the short-lived nuclide^77mSe, as an example of the reliability of the system.     

Neutron activation analysis: A simple versatile program for automated gamma spectrometry with a personal computer

A set of interactive routines has been developed to use a personal computer for instrumental neutron activation analysis. The program operates a multichannel analyzer by remote control and output concentrations, standard deviation and/or detection limit for each requested element. The program is able to combine data from several spectra, so that computation is continuous and takes less than 4 minutes for 15 elements. Reliable results have been obtained for low peak/background ratios encountered in atmospheric and marine particulate matter analyses.     

Contributions to automated trace analysis

Summary A reliable and robust automated device for simultaneous voltammetric analysis (by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry) of several of the most toxic trace metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn) in drinking and ground water is described. It enables in water works the required round the clock on line-monitoring of drinking water over extended periods (one week or longer) without supervision by staff. The device consists of adapted commercial polarographic instrumentation, a punch card program controller and automatic sampling and standard addition facilities. Extended tests under realistic routine working conditions in water works over several months have established the suitability and the potentialities of the concept and the satisfactory performance of the device.Ref. [4], [10] and [11] referring to automated flameless AAS methods for the study of biological materials constitute part I–III of this series     

Determination of fluorine in zinc ores using an isotope neutron source based automated neutron activation analysis system

A method has been developed for routine determination of fluorine in zinc sulfide ores by activation with fast neutrons from a 6.6 Ci²²⁷Ac−Be isotope source and counting of the 4.5 to 7 MeV gamma-rays of the product nuclide¹⁶N. Samples and standards consist of pellets pressed from a mixture of powdered material with wax or graphite. Samples and standards alternate in a sequence of 20 seconds irradiation, 4 seconds decay and 20 seconds counting. This analysis sequence, including the computation of the analysis results from the counting data automated by means of a LSI-11 Microprocessor with 12K×16 bit memory. The zinc ores, containing 0.3 to 0.7% fluorine have been analysed with a precision ranging from 1.56 to 1.33% relative. As a test for the reliability of the method, three standard reference materials were analysed in the same way as the zinc ore samples.     

Application of computers for the selection of the optimum method and for automated data-processing in instrumental activation analysis

Prospects of the application of computers for the selection of optimum methods and for data-processing in activation analysis are discussed. Programs have been developed to select the irradiation source and the type of recording apparatus and to optimize time conditions. Various methods for handling gamma-radiation spectra are discussed. Complex utilization of the programs allows in many cases the elimination of the necessity of developing individual procedures, and the determination of the optimum method for a given element and given analysis parameter.     

Dynamic calibration and automated instrumental analysis

The role of the analytical machine and the computer command in automated instrumental analysis are discussed and the eminent role of true and adapted reference material is stressed. The application of charts in process control (SPC) neglects the analytical potential which is contained in trends. As an improvement on-line calibration is suggested employing a set of high quality reference samples in a moving manner with subsequent regressions after each new analysis of one of the members of the set. The number of members of the set and the sequence of their analysis determine the corrective force of the system and weighted regression provides for large concentration ranges. The performance of the correction system was tested by simulation and results of application to OES and XRF in practice over long periods of time are communicated. The analysis of steel and oxide matter in form of iron ore sinter and blast-furnace slag resulted at any time in negligible bias between nominal and observed values of the set of reference samples. Residual standard deviations near or equal to the repeatabilities of the methods were observed.     

An automated solid sample analysis system

Summary An automated solid sampling analysis system (SSAS) consisting of a powder sampler, an integrated microbalance, a transport and handling system for the sample boat, a microcontrolling unit for all necessary steps and an appropriate AAS instrument is described in detail and its potential for routine metal determination in various materials is demonstrated.     

Trends in automated protein sequence analysis

Automated protein sequence analysis has undergone remarkable developments during the past 10 years. While our ability to obtain complete amino acid sequences on nanomole or subnanomole quantities of starting material can in part be attributed to related technologies, the most impressive advances have been in the evolving design and sophistication of the sequencer itself.