title: A new Am-Be PGNAA setup for element determination in aqueous solution.
abstract: A new prompt-gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) setup has been designed for element determination in aqueous solution with a 300 mCi241Am-Be neutron source and a 4in.×3in. (diameter×height) BGO detector, uncooled. A polyethylene cylindrical sample container approximately 40cm in outer radius and 80cm in height was used. To reduce the neutron dose in the detector, a block of 5cm thickness Li2CO3was placed between the source and the detector for separation, but no gamma-blocker was used. By adjusting the position of the detector and optimizing the geometrical conditions of the setup, the element detection limit with a low activity neutron source was further improved. This methodology was checked by simulations with chlorine, mercury and cadmium determination and by experiments with chlorine determination in aqueous samples. The results show a good linear relationship between chlorine concentration and the count of its characteristic peak, and the detection limit of chlorine can reach 41.7mg/L with a collection time of 3600s for each spectrum. Additionally, a linear relationship was identified between mercury concentration and the count of its characteristic peak, but for cadmium, a non-linear relationship was observed in the simulations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou 215021, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yongsheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou 215021, China. Electronic address: jia_wenbao@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wenbao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China.
authors.forename: Hei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daqian
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qing
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Can
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Haojia
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China.
authors.forename: Hou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wenyu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yanquan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Da
keywords: Detection limit; MOCA code; Prompt gamma neutron activation analysis