Using the technique of neutron activation for characterize of a physicochemical - chemical constituents

摘要

The physical-chemical composition of mixed waste materials of solid, paste or powder consistency and of domestic or industrial origin can be determined by a neutron activation technique applied in a continuous operation to detect chemical elements and/or their derivatives so that the waste components can be sorted or the overall chemical composition of the waste mixture adjusted to make it recyclable. The waste materials (2) are tipped from trucks (1) into a pit (3), from which they are transferred by a grab (4) to a conveyor belt and passed under a neutron activator (6) linked to a computer (7). The chemical elements in the waste are irradiated by the neutrons and destabilised so that they emit gamma rays that are characteristic for each of the elements of the Periodic Table, enabling them to be sorted.