RAPID METHOD FOR ASSAYING SULFUR USING PROTON ACTIVATION-ANALYSIS Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • A novel application of charged particle activation analysis is presented involving short irradiations of 1 sec coupled with the measurement of very short-lived nuclides. The case studied deals with the determination of sulfur using 32S(p, n)32Cl. This activation reaction features a high abundance target isotope and a product nuclide of very short half-life (300 msec) emitting high energy positrons. Counting was performed with a Cherenkov detector at the irradiation site immediately after bombardment. The experimental approach for optimizing the counting conditions is described and the activation curve for 32S(p, n)32Cl is given for proton energies up to 22.5 MeV. The sensitivity based on experimental data is estimated at 50g/cm2. The application of this technique to petroleum products with sulfur contents ranging from 3.18% to 0.72% is discussed. 1972.

published proceedings

  • NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS

author list (cited authors)

  • THOMAS, J. P., & SCHWEIKERT, E. A.

citation count

  • 16

complete list of authors

  • THOMAS, JP||SCHWEIKERT, EA

publication date

  • March 1972