Other

Packard Instrument Company, Inc.

Bicron Corporation

John E Noakes

Robert J Valenta

Randolph A Culp

A process for solidifying organic waste in cement for transport and storage in solid form by mixing organic waste, water, and a cationic amine to form an emulsion, mixing the emulsion with cement to form a mixture without breaking the emulsion, casting the mixture in a form, and curing the mixture to a solidified form. In a preferred embodiment of the process, a particulate material with a negative surface charge is included in the mixture to neutralize positive charges on the cationic amine and the cement. An alcohol or glycol may be included in the emulsion to enhance the holding power and integrity of the emulsion by controlling size and uniformity of emulsion particle size. The process is applicable to organic wastes such as waste oils, halogenated solvents, non-halogenated solvents, pesticides, herbicides, liquids and sludges containing heavy metals, radioactive mixed wastes and mixtures thereof.

Solidification of organic waste materials in cement

A low-level liquid scintillation measurement system for counting sample optical events resulting from the radioactive decay of a constituent of a sample to be measured while reducing the counting of background optical events which are optical events produced by background radiation and which create electrical pulses other than pulses representing a sample optical event. This system includes a detector located adjacent the sample for detecting optical events and for converting optical events into electrical pulses, a coincidence sensor for receiving the electrical pulses from the detector and producing a trigger pulse when the electrical pulses from the detector coincide with each other, a burst detector for receiving the trigger pulses from the coincidence sensor and the electrical pulses from the detector for determining the number of electrical pulses present in a selected interval following each of the trigger pulses, evaluator connected to the burst detector for determining, in response to the number of pulses detected in the selected interval, the extent to which the optical event represented by the corresponding trigger pulse should be treated as a sample optical event or a background event, and an active guard shield arrangement comprising an auxiliary scintillator optically coupled to the detector. The shield is adapted to be excited by background radiation and to effectively increase the number of electrical pulses present in the selected interval following a trigger pulse generated as a result of the coincident pulses produced due to the background radiation. The axuiliary scintillator is a glass comprising oxides of lithium, magnesium, silicon and cerium.

Liquid scintillation measurement system with active guard shield

A low-level liquid scintillation measurement system for counting sample optical events resulting from the radioactive decay of a constituent of a sample to be measured while reducing the counting of background optical events which are optical events produced by background radiation and which create electrical pulses other than pulses representing a sample optical event. This system includes detection means located adjacent the sample for detecting optical events and for converting optical events into electrical pulses, coincidence sensing means for receiving the electrical pulses from the detection means and producing a trigger pulse when the electrical pulses from the detection means coincide with each other, burst detection means for receiving the trigger pulses from the coincidence sensing means and the electrical pulses from the detection means for determining the number of electrical pulses present in a selected interval following each of the trigger pulses, evaluation means connected to the burst detection means for determining, in response to the number of pulses detected in the selected interval, the extent to which the optical event represented by the corresponding trigger pulse should be treated as a sample optical event or a background event, and an active guard shiled arrangement comprising an auxiliary scintillator optically coupled to the detection means. The shield is adapted to be excited by background radiation and to effectively increase the number of electrical pulses present in the selected interval following a trigger pulse generated as a result of the coincident pulses produced due to the background radiation. This allows the measurement system to accurately evaluate the number of pulses detected in the selected interval and determine the extent to which a trigger pulse is to be treated as a sample optical event.

A solution of a hydrophobic substituted, amino triphenyl methane leucocyanide dye in a clear, highly polar solvent free of hydroxyl groups with enough acid added to make the solution slightly acidic which is sensitive to small dosages of ionizing radiation and responds by permanently changing color. Up to one-half of the solution by weight can be replaced by a second solution of an aromatic solvent and an organic fluor. Another modification of the invention is a solution of a leucocyanide dye in a clear polar solvent which has an aromatic group, an organic fluor, and enough acid to make the solution slightly acidic.

Radiochromic liquid solution

This invention relates to a method for the encapsulation in a cement mixture of the organic liquid radioactive waste comprising an aromatic liquid and an organic fluor, generated from the use of liquid scintillation counting (LSC).

Disposal of radioactive aromatic liquid wastes

Liquid scintillation counters are now the instruments of choice for use in counting most radioactive samples. While preferred, liquid scintillation counters are still subject to the disadvantages of their inability to effect high photon detection from within the counting vial, and of their inability to retain volatile cocktail solvents within the instrument for relatively long periods. A liquid scintillation counter is provided having a sample vessel with means which increase photon impingement on the photosensing device of the instrument, and with closure means better preventing escape of volatile materials.

Sealable high counting efficiency liquid scintillation vials

A scintillation counter consists of a scintillation detector, usually a crystal scintillator optically coupled to a photomultiplier tube which converts photons to electrical pulses. The photomultiplier pulses are measured to provide information on impinging radiation. In inorganic crystal scintillation detectors to achieve maximum density, optical transparency and uniform activation, it has been necessary heretofore to prepare the scintillator as a single crystal. Crystal pieces fail to give a single composite response. Means are provided herein for obtaining such a response with crystal pieces, such means comprising the combination of crystal pieces and liquid or solid organic scintillator matrices having a cyclic molecular structure favorable to fluorescence.

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Athens, GA, United States of America

John E Noakes