Instrument to Measure Soil Contaminants and Transport Characteristics

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将解决环境恢复的一个主要问题：土壤污染物及其迁移特征的低成本测量。为此，First Point Science，Inc.计划开发一种新型的中子/X射线能谱(NXS)测井仪器，该仪器将与锥形贯入仪(一种液压驱动进入地下的探头)一起使用。该仪器使用被动和中子诱发的伽马射线光谱学和X射线光谱学技术进行所需的测量。预计它将在不使用放射性材料的情况下，为探测和监测活动提供高灵敏度(例如，汞@0.2-2ppm；氯@3-20ppm)。它还将提供有吸引力的采样量和深度分辨率。拟议项目的目标是确定NXS概念的技术可行性。这将通过执行两项任务来完成：(1)制定实验室NXS仪器原型的初步设计，(2)通过详细的计算机建模，根据最低检测水平评估其性能。洛斯阿拉莫斯国家实验室、西屋汉福德公司和康奈尔大学的工作人员将为这些任务做出贡献。第一阶段可行性的成功演示将为第二阶段实验室原型仪器的建造和测试提供坚实的基础。该项目响应了1994年关于最大限度减少污染和补救领域国家关键技术的征求意见。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will address a major problem for environmental restoration: the low cost measurement of soil contaminants and their transport characteristics. First Point Scientific, Inc. proposes to develop a novel Neutron/X-ray Spectral (NXS) logging instrument, which will be used with a cone penetrometer (a probe which is hydraulically driven into the ground), for this purpose. This instrument uses passive and neutron-induced gamma-ray spectroscopy and x-ray spectroscopy techniques to make the needed measurements. It is expected to provide high sensitivity (e.g., Hg @ 0.2-2 ppm; Cl @ 3-20 ppm), for both detection and monitoring activities, without the use of radioactive materials. It will also provide attractive sampling volumes and depth resolution. The objective of the proposed project is to determine the technical feasibility of the NXS concept. This will be accomplished by performing two tasks: (1) develop the preliminary design for a laboratory prototype NXS instrument and (2) evaluate its performance, in terms of minimum detection levels, through detailed computer modeling. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Westinghouse Hanford Co., and Cornell University personnel will contribute to these tasks. Successful demonstrations of feasibility in Phase I will provide a firm foundation for construction and testing of the laboratory prototype instrument in Phase II. This project responds to the 1994 Solicitation emphasis on National Critical Technologies in the area of Pollution Minimization and Remediation.