Development of high efficiency, multi-element CdZnTe detectors for portable measurement applications

We describe the development of detector arrays and electronics for large-volume, hand-held CdZnTe detectors with the same counting efficiency as portable NaI(Tl) detectors presently used for nuclear material measurement applications. The pulse-height resolution of the multi-element detectors is at least three times better than NaI(Tl) over a wide energy range (from 100 keV to several MeV), enabling more accurate measurements of gamma-rays emitted by special nuclear material. Arrays of up to eight coplanar grid detectors can be combined to make detectors ranging in size from 4 to 14 cm³. Because the number of spectroscopy channels is small, low-power, hand-held detectors can be manufactured with conventional printed circuit board technology, thus keeping the cost of multi-element detectors to a minimum. The design and performance of an 8-element detector is presented.     

Measurement of three gamma annihilation by lanthanum-based crystals compared with NaI(Tl) and HPGe

The relative yield of 3γ to 2γ annihilation was measured for a positron emitter, ²²Na, with the new scintillator detectors lanthanum chloride (LaCl₃:Ce) and lanthanum bromide (LaBr₃:Ce), which had been characterised for comparison with high-purity germanium (HPGe) and sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)) detectors. The information obtained from the ortho-positronium 3γ decay in positron emission tomography (PET) can be a measure of the oxygen content in biological tissues by determination of this relative yield. However, it requires high resolution spectroscopy and detection efficiency. Characterisation of the new generation of scintillator detectors determines whether they could replace conventional scintillators and semiconductors. A series of experiments was carried out with different samples in order to study the effect of ortho-positronium formation. The peak-to-peak and the peak-to-valley methods were compared in the measurement of the relative yield of 3γ to 2γ annihilation.     

Comparison of universal detectors for high-temperature micro liquid chromatography

This study compares, through micro high-temperature liquid chromatography (microHTLC), three commercial universal detectors that allow a direct detection of lipids. The detectors are: the charged aerosol detector (CAD), the evaporative light-scattering detector (ELSD) and the ion trap mass spectrometer with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) sources (APCI-MS and ESI-MS). This study shows the feasibility to use the high temperature with these detectors and hybrid behavior between concentration and mass flow rate detector in microHTLC. The detectors were compared in terms of response intensity, linearity and limit of detection for different high temperatures. The charged aerosol detector shows a linear response from 5 to 500 microg/mL and the correlation coefficients (r(2)) obtained for squalene, cholesterol and ceramide IIIB exceed 0.99.     

Analysis of sludge extracts by high resolution GC with selective detectors

Combination of various GC detectors by using a Varian effluent splitter with glass capillary columns has been found to be a rapid procedure for profiling organics extracted from sludges and river sediments. The selectivity and the increased sensitivity of the thermionic nitrogen-phosphorus detector (TSD), the electron capture detector (ECD), and the flame photometric detector (FPD) over the flame ionization detectors (FID) or mass spectrometers allow the detection of compounds present at trace levels without need for extensive sample cleanup. Furthermore, the combination of two selective detectors may supplement the information with regard to the chemical functionalities required for structure elucidation.     

Comparison of portable detectors for uranium enrichment measurements

Uranium enrichment and holdup measurements require a detector capable of accurately obtaining the 186-keV peak area. NaI detectors have been widely used for these tasks. However, for recycled uranium, the interference of the 239-keV peak from the ²³²U decay chain challenges the capabilities of the NaI detectors to accurately extract the area of the 186-keV peak. Using CZT detectors, which have much better resolution than the NaI detectors, has temporarily solved this interference problem. However, the CZT detectors have setbacks in that they are generally small and have low efficiencies, which require long acquisition times for reasonable statistics. Recently, two new types of scintillator detectors have become available commercially, LaCl₃(Ce) and LaBr₃(Ce). These cerium-doped lanthanum halide detectors, with comparable resolution but better efficiency than the CZT detectors, appear to permanently solve the interference problem for recycled uranium measurements. In this report, we compare the uranium enrichment measurement performances of a portable NaI detector, a large coplanar-grid CZT detector, and a LaBr₃ detector.     

Experimental comparison of the relative yield of 3γ/2γ positron annihilation using semiconductor and scintillation detectors

The yield of three photon positron annihilation is measured using semiconductor and scintillation detectors in a comparison for applications in positron emission tomography, particularly in the exploitation of three photon positron annihilation imaging where good energy resolution and good efficiency are required. In this experimental study four detectors, High-purity Germanium (HPGe), Sodium Iodide (NaI(Tl)), Lanthanum Chloride (LaCl₃:10%Ce³⁺) and Lanthanum Bromide (LaBr₃:5%Ce³⁺) were used. The peak-to-peak method was used with a ²²Na source to determine these yields. Aluminium was employed as a reference material as its high electron density reduces positronium formation and lifetimes. Teflon was also used in order to enhance the formation of ortho-positronium, since quenching is low, leading to increased three photon positron annihilation. The relative 3γ/2γ yields obtained were (3.04±0.11)·10⁻², (2.17±0.11)·10⁻², (3.26±0.10)·10⁻² and (2.03±0.11)·10⁻² for LaBr₃:Ce, LaCl₃:Ce, NaI(Tl) and HPGe detectors, respectively. Among these detectors LaBr₃:Ce proved to be the detector of choice for three photon imaging applications as it has both good energy resolution and efficiency.     

Comparison of photodiode array,evaporative light scattering,and single-quadrupole mass spectrometric detection methods for the UPLC analysis of pyrolysis liquids

It is important to analyze pyrolysis liquids to evaluate the yield of valuable products as well as unfavorable by-products. This work focuses on choosing detectors for reversed-phase ultra high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of pyrolysis liquids. The linearity, sensitivity, precision, and recovery of photodiode array (PDA) detector, single-quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS), and evaporative light scattering (ELS) detector were compared for the quantitative determination of several typical compounds found in pyrolysis liquids. PDA and MS detectors were found to be suitable for the quantification of furans and phenol derivatives (furfural, vanillin, syringol), but sugars and their derivatives (glucose, xylose, levoglucosan) can be analyzed with MS or ELS detectors.     

Measurements of indoor radon concentration levels in Kilis,Osmaniye and Antakya,Turkey during spring season

The fact that 50% of the natural radiation dose to which humans are exposed is caused by radon gas makes indoor radon measurements important. In this study, levels of indoor radon gas were measured in 204 houses in Kilis, Osmaniye and Antakya using passive nuclear track detectors. Cr-39 radon detectors were left in the living rooms of participants’ houses, then analyzed at the Radon Laboratory of Health Physics Department in Çekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center (ÇANEM) of Atomic Energy Agency of Turkey (TAEK). Average indoor radon activity concentrations for Kilis, Osmaniye and Antakya were 50 Bq/m³ (1.26 mSv/y), 51 Bq/m³ (1.29 mSv/y) and 40 Bq/m³ (1.01 mSv/y), respectively.     

Comparison of the response of four aerosol detectors used with ultra high pressure liquid chromatography

The responses of four different types of aerosol detectors have been evaluated and compared to establish their potential use as a universal detector in conjunction with ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Two charged-aerosol detectors, namely Corona CAD and Corona Ultra, and also two different types of light-scattering detectors (an evaporative light scattering detector, and a nano-quantity analyte detector [NQAD]) were evaluated. The responses of these detectors were systematically investigated under changing experimental and instrumental parameters, such as the mobile phase flow-rate, analyte concentration, mobile phase composition, nebulizer temperature, evaporator temperature, evaporator gas flow-rate and instrumental signal filtering after detection. It was found that these parameters exerted non-linear effects on the responses of the aerosol detectors and must therefore be considered when designing analytical separation conditions, particularly when gradient elution is performed. Identical reversed-phase gradient separations were compared on all four aerosol detectors and further compared with UV detection at 200 nm. The aerosol detectors were able to detect all 11 analytes in a test set comprising species having a variety of physicochemical properties, whilst UV detection was applicable only to those analytes containing chromophores. The reproducibility of the detector response for 11 analytes over 10 consecutive separations was found to be approximately 5% for the charged-aerosol detectors and approximately 11% for the light-scattering detectors. The tested analytes included semi-volatile species which exhibited a more variable response on the aerosol detectors. Peak efficiencies were generally better on the aerosol detectors in comparison to UV detection and particularly so for the light-scattering detectors which exhibited efficiencies of around 110,000 plates per metre. Limits of detection were calculated using different mobile phase compositions and the NQAD detector was found to be the most sensitive (LOD of 10 ng/mL), followed by the Corona CAD (76 ng/mL), then UV detection at 200 nm (178 ng/mL) using an injection volume of 25 μL.     

Determination of trihalomethanes in water samples: a review

This article reviews the most recent literature addressing the analytical methods applied for trihalomethanes (THMs) determination in water samples. This analysis is usually performed with gas chromatography (GC) combined with a preconcentration step. The detectors most widely used in this type of analyses are mass spectrometers (MS) and electron capture detectors (ECD). Here, we review the analytical characteristics, the time required for analysis, and the simplicity of the optimised methods. The main difference between these methods lies in the sample pretreatment step; therefore, special emphasis is placed on this aspect. The techniques covered are direct aqueous injection (DAI), liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), headspace (HS), and membrane-based techniques. We also review the main chromatographic columns employed and consider novel aspects of chromatographic analysis, such as the use of fast gas chromatography (FGC). Concerning the detection step, besides the common techniques, the use of uncommon detectors such as fluorescence detector, pulsed discharge photoionization detector (PDPID), dry electrolytic conductivity detector (DELCD), atomic emission detector (AED) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for this type of analysis is described.     

Comparing Electrochemical,Fluorescence, and Ultraviolet Detectors for HPLC Analysis of the Decapeptide,Nafarelin

Abstract

This report describes a reverse-phase HPLC technique to determine the concentration of nafarelin (a decapeptide luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog) in aqueous solutions for intranasal administration. Pursuant to the method development we evaluated three different detectors with respect to sensitivity, linearity, specificity and reliability. The three detector types investigated were: spectrophotometric (225 nm), electrochemical (at +1.2 v), and fluorescence (excitation = 282 nm, emission = 332 nm). All three detectors gave satisfactorily linear response, and gave equivalent results for nafarelin samples assayed in parallel. The lower detection limits for the three detectors were: ultraviolet = 1.5 ng, electrochemical = 2.0 ng, and fluorescence = 0.6 ng. Thus, the three detector types are nearly equally sensitive for nafarelin analysis. For routine determinations the ultraviolet detector is superior to the electrochemical and fluorescence detectors with respect to convenience of operation.     

Analytical methods for phenyltin compounds in polychlorinated biphenyl-based transformer oil samples

We present the first study on the analytical methods of phenyltin compounds (PTs) in polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-based transformer oil samples. Tetraphenyltin (TePhT) has been used as stabilizer for some kinds of PCBs-based transformer oil formulations. Monophenyltin (MPhT), diphenyltin (DPhT) and triphenyltin (TrPhT) could have been formed from TePhT during long-term use. TePhT was directly measured by gas chromatograph (GC) connected with three types of detectors, a mass spectrometer (MS), a flame photometric detector (FPD) and an atomic emission detector (AED) after dilution with hexane. MPhT, DPhT and TrPhT were propylated with Grignard reagent before measurement. The MS was the most sensitive of the detectors, with detection limits of phenyltin compounds of 30 ng/ml (MPhT), 9.8 ng/ml (DPhT), 5.5 ng/ml (TrPhT) and 0.60 ng/ml (TePhT), respectively. From the viewpoint of selectivity, MS was slightly worse than other detectors, but interference from PCBs matrices was not significant under ordinary analytical conditions. Two used transformer oil samples were analyzed using the analytical methods developed in this study. TePhT and TrPhT were found in both samples.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Star Polymer with Comb-like Poly(lauryl methacrylate) Arms by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization via One-pot ‘Arm-First’ Method

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to prepare core crosslinked star polymers with comb-like poly (lauryl methacrylate) (LMA) arms by one-pot “arm-first” method, involving the synthesis of comb-like PLMA arms, followed by their crosslinking, using a mixture of LMA monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) crosslinker. By adjusting the feeding time and level of EGDMA, a series of star-like polymers with various comb-like arms length and number can be obtained. The molecular architecture including radius of gyration (Rg), hydrodynamic radius (Rh) and intrinsic viscosity (η_i) etc. were characterized by a triple-detector gel permeation chromatography (GPC) equipped with a refractive index detector, viscometer detector and a multi-angle static laser light scattering (MALLS) detector. The thermal property and shearing stability of these star-like polymers were also investigated.     

Analysis of global components in Ganoderma using liquid chromatography system with multiple columns and detectors

In present study, a multiple columns and detectors liquid chromatography system for analysis of global components in traditional Chinese medicines was developed. The liquid chromatography system was consist of three columns, including size exclusion chromatography column, hydrophilic interaction chromatography column, and reversed phase chromato‐graphy column, and three detectors, such as diode array detector, evaporative light scattering detector, and mass spectrometry detector, based on column switching technique. The developed multiple columns and detectors liquid chromatography system was successfully applied to the analysis of global components, including macromolecular (polysaccharides), high (nucleosides and sugars)‐, and low (triterpenes)‐polarity small molecular compounds in Ganoderma, a well‐known Chinese medicinal mushroom. As a result, one macromolecular chromatographic peak was found in two Ganoderma species, 19 components were identified in Ganoderma lucidum (two sugars, three nucleosides, and 14 triterpenes), and four components (two sugars and two nucleosides) were identified in Ganoderma sinense. The developed multiple columns and detectors liquid chromatography system was helpful to understand comprehensive chemical characters in TCMs.     

Bond detectors for molecular dynamics simulations,Part I: Hydrogen bonds

Charge sensitivity analysis in AMBER force‐field resolution has been used in quest for detectors of hydrogen bonds (HBs). The process of HB formation was investigated on ab initio classical trajectories (B3LYP/6‐31G*) of different nucleobase pairs. Several charge sensitivities, namely: electronegativity, hardness, Fukui function (FF), and polarization matrix, were analyzed. The global and constrained equilibria were considered. It was demonstrated that FF indices and polarization matrix elements are good detectors of HB formation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Design Features of a High Resolution Microcalorimeter EDX System

 High resolution, superconducting detectors allow energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) with energy resolution and energy threshold far beyond the levels obtained with semiconductor detectors. These cryogenic detectors are run at temperatures of less than 100 mK and combine the excellent energy resolution of wavelength dispersive X-ray spectrometry (WDX) with the fast, energy dispersive analysis of EDX. CSP cryogenic spectrometer’s microcalorimeter type EDX cryodetectors are equipped with a mechanical cooling system that runs vibration free and allows completely automated operations on scanning electron microscopes (SEMs), field emission guns (FEGs) and transmission electron microscopes (TEMs). This detector type offers new opportunities in material analysis, especially when low excitation energies are applied or light elements are to be determined.     

Determination of small concentrations of HCl by derivative formation-a problem and how it might be solved

In the investigation of methods for the determination of chloride three reactions for making derivatives of HCl have been developed. The individual problems which arise for the different methods are discussed. The reactions are reaction of CrO(3) with HCl to give CrO(2)Cl(2), reaction of epoxides with HCl to produce alpha-chloro-alcohols and reaction of C(6)H(5)HgNO(3) with HCl to form C(6)H(5)HgCl. The detection methods used are gamma-spectrometric measurement of (51)Cr-labelled CrO(2)Cl(2), gas-chromatographic determination of alpha-chloro-alcohols with flame-ionization, electron-capture or electrolytic-conductivity detectors and the determination of C(6)H(5)HgCl by AAS.     

Rn-222 air concentrations in Chihuahua State (Mexico) dwellings and in the U.S./Mexico border

Using charcoal detectors and electrets, radon concentrations were measured at 12 different locations in Mexico, homes in particular, throughout Chihuahua State. While these measurements were short-term, long-term measurements were also conducted around Chihuahua and Aldama cities using LR-115 II type detectors. In addition, LR-115 II type detectors were deployed for comparative purposes between Ciudad Juarez (Mexico) and El Paso (Texas). Significant average radon values were obtained in Aldama and Parral at 225 and 173 Becquerel per cubic meter (Bq m^− 3), respectively. Over 30% of the homes sampled in Aldama, Cuauhtemoc, Parral and Chihuahua had radon concentrations greater than 148 Bq m^− 3.     

A software package using a mesh-grid method for simulating HPGe detector efficiencies

Traditional ways of determining the absolute full-energy peak efficiencies of high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors are often time consuming, cost prohibitive, or not feasible. A software package, KMESS (Kevin’s Mesh Efficiency Simulator Software), was developed to assist in predicting these efficiencies. It uses a semi-empirical mesh-grid method and works for arbitrary source shapes and counting geometries. The model assumes that any gamma-ray source shape can be treated as a large enough collection of point sources. The code is readily adaptable, has a web-based graphical front-end, and could easily be coupled to a 3D scanner. As will be shown, this software can estimate absolute full-energy peak efficiencies with good accuracy in reasonable computation times. It has applications to the field of gamma-ray spectroscopy because it is a quick and accurate way to assist in performing quantitative analyses using HPGe detectors.     

Shielding optimization in an in vivo activation analysis setup

A neutron irradiation setup for in vivo activation analysis was characterized to optimize its spectrum measurements. In order to have a reliable spectrum, some shields and filters were defined to eliminate as much background possible. Since there were different types of background sources, different states were studied and necessary shields were employed to optimize the spectrum. To use a neutron shield, boron carbide layers (3 cm) around 3 × 3 in. sodium iodine detectors were employed. To prevent γ-ray background, bismuth (2 cm) is used under the detectors.