METHOD OF DETERMINING BERYLLIUM IN A MEDIUM TO BE ANALYZED AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METHOD Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: analytical methods.

SUBSTANCE: method consists in providing and irradiating a sample of a medium using stream of alpha-particles with energy 4.5-5.3 MeV and activity 13.2-17.0 GBc from plutonium-238-based emission source. Number of gamma quanta of secondary emission of the sample is registered and content of beryllium in sample if found using equation: M_Be - (N-N_θ)/W, where M_Be is content of beryllium in sample, mcg; N number of gamma quanta of secondary emission of the sample; N_θ number of gamma quanta in reference sample; and W sensitivity of measurement expressed in number of pulses/mcg, after which content of beryllium in the medium is calculated. Analytical device comprises sampling block, control block, and bilateral communication line, which line provides transmission of commands, bilateral communication signals, and detector signals between control block and sampling block. Detector switches on sampling mechanism equipped with electric drives having step motors and position transducers based on infrared light-emitting diodes and photodiodes. Detector is constructed in the form of vertically arranged upper and lower connection pipes connected to pump. Device further has mechanism for discrete displacement of filter tape consisting of carriage moving along two horizontal guides. Carriage supports tape-moving mechanism containing two bobbins, one feeding and the other receiving filter tape. Device is also equipped with measurement means including plutonium-238-based alpha-emission source, disposed inside protective housing over the detector, for upright displacement with simultaneous revolution about horizontal axis to an angle of 180 degrees, and electronic block ensuring remote control of electric drives, transmission of bilateral communication signals and detector signals to control block, the latter being provided with remote control panel and computer with printer connected to the panel.

EFFECT: enabled rapid remote measurement of beryllium content in air slurries, surface deposits, and sediments.

4 cl, 2 dwg