Radioisotope techniques for the investigation of process problems in the chemical industry

This paper reviews the ways in which radioisotope techniques can be used to solve process plant problems. In recognizing that the field of application is very large, attention has been concentrated on those techniques which have been found to be of greatest use. This selection is made on the basis of the work spectrum of a practising radioisotope applications unit which, each year, completes more than fifteen hundred applications. The techniques considered fall into three categories: sealed-source application, tracer methods and activable tracer techniques. Applications from each category are described and, where appropriate, indications of the resulting economic benefits are given. (author)