Optimization of a prompt gamma setup for analysis of environmental samples

A thermal neutron capture-based Prompt Gamma ray Activation Analysis setup has been designed to analyze the elemental concentration of environmental bulk samples using a D(d,n) reaction-based portable neutron generator. The performance of the setup was tested through mercury concentration measurements in Hg-contaminated water samples using a large volume cylindrical bismuth germinate (BGO) gamma ray detector. Excellent agreement of experimental count rate of 2.64, 3.19 + 3.29 and 4.67–5.05 MeV Hg prompt gamma rays with theoretical count rate obtained through Monte Carlo simulations, indicates excellent performance of the newly designed portable neutron generator-based PGNAA setup.     

Neutron moderation effects in phc contaiminated soil samples

Prompt gamma ray analysis of soil samples contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons(PHC) like benzene was carried out using 14 MeV neutron beams. Intensities of silicon, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen gamma rays were measured for soil samples containing 2.20–10.4 wt% benzene. With increasing benzene concentration, the intensity of the C gamma rays increased while those of Si, H, and O gamma rays decreased. The reduction in Si, H, and O gamma ray intensities may be due to increasing neutron moderation effect in benzene-contaminated soil samples. The experimental intensities of gamma rays are in good agreement with the calculated intensities.The neutron moderation effects in benzene contaminated soil samples are about 26% weaker than those reported for soil samples containing moisture. From the slopes of silicon gamma ray intensity as a function of benzene concentration as well as moisture concentration, a simple scheme has been suggested to correct for the loss in carbon counts caused by neutron moderation from PHC and moisture in the soil samples.