On line neutron irradiation facility for elemental analysis of solutions

A rapid neutron irradiation facility for online elemental analysis of solutions using 5 Ci pu/Be neutron source is described. The relative total and thermal neutron flux distributions within the neutron irradiation region are found. The gamma-rays emitted due to decay of the irradiated samples have been collected by means of 57.5 cm3 Ge(Li) detector and 4096 multichannel analyzer system. The gamma-ray line of 56Mn at 847 kev, is used for the determination of the concentration of manganese in its solutions. The calibration curves needed for providing the contribution of this element are constructed. Capsulated samples of silver nitrate solution was irradiated at the centre of the assembly and the gamma-ray spectra due to decay of 108Ag (2.4 min) are illustrated. The results obtained proved the dual-purpose of the present facility for elemental neutron activation analysis in qualitative and quantitative investigations. (author)