Ultra-Trace Molecular Detection Instrumentation Based on Aerosol Nucleation with Rapid Preconcentration and Separation
EMSL Project ID
9612
Abstract
The threat from the proliferation of nuclear weapons creates a continuous need for the long-term monitoring of chemical signatures of nuclear material production (effluents from uranium conversion and enrichment facilities). Semi-volatile organic chemicals are associated with nuclear processes (e.g. recovery of plutonium for nuclear weapons production, actinide separations) and can provide signatures that will attach to equipment, soil, water and other surface media. Semi-volatile organic chemicals have low but measurable vapor pressure and can be detected in the atmosphere either in the vapor phase or absorbed on particles. Our proposal is based on the extreme sensitivity of the supersaturated vapor in a meta-stable thermodynamic equilibrium near the phase transition gas-liquid (or rather gas - aerosol particle).
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2004-07-15
End Date
2005-12-06
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members