1
Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR
NUCLEAR ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
• 110 Research Reactor based NAA labs worldwide
• On average 3 counting facilities per lab
• Average 10-20 samples per day can be processed, 150 days per year makes up 1,500 – 3,000 samples per detector per year. Maximum capacity per NAA lab: 5,000 – 10,000 samples/year.
• If average cost per analysis are set at US$ 100, the max. world turnover amounts to 50 – 100 M USD/year.
• But: in practice laboratories run at ~ 10 % capacity
• Expected realistic growth, based also on availability of samples with
minimal effort, ~ 20 % capacity leading to realistic world turnover of 10 – 20 M USD/year
• possible increase to ~ 50 M USD/year may be developed.
GLOBAL POTENTIALS OF NAA LABORATORIES
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
• Similar estimate can be made for nuclear spectrometry labs (, , including gross alpha/beta)
• estimated 2 labs/country, 200 countries world wide, 3 detectors/lab
• 300,000 – 500,000 samples per year for radioactivity monitoring
• average price per analysis ~ 50 USD
• annual turnover estimated: 15 – 25 M USD/year
The socio-economic impact, however, is multi-fold as these measurements add to public health, emergency preparedness and import/export issues.
GLOBAL POTENTIALS OF NUCLEAR SPECTROSCOPY LABORATORIES
4
Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
• Material, difficult to decompose and/or samples in which elements may be lost during dissolution.
• Precious materials that must be preserved, not dissolved
• Materials for which other methods of analysis have difficulties in the calibration step due to chemical matrix effects.
• Analyses requiring a high degree of accuracy, but even more reliability, to ensure full comparability of data obtained over a long period of time.
• Materials with a high degree of inhomogeneity, requiring large analytical portion to ensure representativeness.
NICHES FOR NAA
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
NICHES FOR NUCLEAR SPECTROSCOPY
• Food industry: control of water and food, especially in areas with high natural abundance of Th and U
• Building industry: control of building materials (Ra, K)
• Chemical industry: control of manufacturing and recycling
• Mineral and oil exploration: control of natural radioactivity such as 210Po, 210Pb
• Customs: measurement of imported products
• Trade: control of import and certification of export
• Health: Rn monitoring in houses and offices
• Environmental monitoring: radioecology
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
• Industry: Optimization of manufacturing and recycling processes; insight in waste streams. • Nuclear industry: Assays in all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, from Uranium exploration toward waste depositories. Contribution to control of illegal trafficking. • Mining: Determination of new resources, environmental and radiological impact of e.g. waste tailings.• Trade: International acceptance of products.• Agriculture: Quality of soil; insight in essential elements for crop growth; quality of fertilizers.• Health care: Insight in nutritional quality of food, reduction of under-nourishment, toxic effects of inorganic substances, trace element metabolism in man and animal. • Forensics: Investigation of fraud, insurance cases, crime investigation.• Environmental: Insight in sources of inorganic air pollution, quality of soil and water resources, quality of domestic, hospital and industrial waste streams, background/reference values of unpolluted areas. • Metrology and standards: Development of reference materials for quality control and traceability.• Archaeology and art history: Origin and authenticity of historical objects, including art; identification of fraud and illegal trafficking
SOME SPIN-OFFS
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
DELFT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
INAA FACILITIES IN DELFT
3 coaxial detectors with sample changers (17 %, 30 %, 80 %)1 low-energy detector3 well-type detectors with sample changers (125 cc, 125 cc, 250 cc)2 fast rabbit systems (one with sample changer) with coaxial detectors(10 % and 40 %)1 large volume coaxial detector (96 %) for large sample INAA
Maximum capacity ca. 15,000 samples per yearPractical use ca. 2,500 samples per yearNo of capsules (samples, flux monitors,blanks, control samples) ca. 7,500 samples per yearNo. of spectra analysed ca. 20,000 per yearQualified users 6Maximum throughput per user (full multielement analysis) ca. 1,000 samples per year
Neutron Activation Analysis
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
LINUX Diskserver
PC Workstation Linux + X-Windows
100Mb/s LAN
RS232
Local area network
Detector
Sample Changer
12 gamma-ray spectrometers, 6 sample changers, fast rabbit sample changer, large sample scanner
Buffered interface/sample changer control module
Neutron Activation Analysis
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Neutron Activation Analysis
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
INAA Market Developments
Geology (rocks, minerals) ICP-MS
Sediments Limited because of National norms
Environmental Emphasis on water
High-purity Si wafers Production now controlled
Plastics XRF
Nail clippings
Hi-Tech materials
Animal fodder
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Fitness for the Purpose ?
- Protocol, “traditional” amongst NAA specialists:
Sample masses up to 300 mgIrradiations during 1-4 hDecay 1 week and 3 weeksCounting 1 - 4 h
OVERKILL:Too long turn-around timesToo much informationCounting statistics too good
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Standardized protocol
200 mg 4 h irradiation, 1 h count after 5 days, 1 h count after 21 daysReporting after 7 days or after 24 days
Custom-tailored protocol5 - 500 mg1 -4 h irradiation 30 m - 1 h count after 2 days, 4 h count after 8 daysReporting within 5 days or within 10 days
Fitness for the Purpose ?
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Smart Protocols
Total turnaround time 5 days
Perception of client: 2 (working) days….
Fitness for the Purpose :
Week 1 Week 2
Sunday Sunday Evening
CoolingStart Counting
Monday Monday Morning Afternoon
AnalysisReporting
Tuesday Tuesday
Wednesday Wednesday
Thursday Morning Evening
Sample ReceiptIrradiation
Thursday
Friday Afternoon
CoolingUnpacking, in sample changer
Friday
Saturday Cooling Saturday
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1 element 2 elements 3 elements selectedgroup
all elements
Service
Research
Fitness for the Purpose
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
shor
t
med
ium long
S+MM
+LS+L All
Differe
nt p
roto
col
Service
Research
Fitness for the Purpose
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Hardly requests for demonstrating the accuracy of INAA;
Customers simply assume that the results you provide them are accurate.
Experience in Delft
Fitness for the Purpose
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Costs and Tariffs
Analysis costs’ based on
- Depreciation of equipment 40 %
- Labor 50 %
- Consumables 5 %
- Accreditation 5 %
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Costs and Tariffs
- Industry: Never discussion
- Government: sometimes tenders
- Academics: Always a problem
Many research funding organizations do not accept a budget for analyses
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
AAS, per element € 23
ICP-OES, per element 9
XRF, per element 86
Sample preparation 28 – 68
Method development ≥ 700
Discounts: reporting standard: within 10 days
reporting < 30 days - 25 % reporting < 5 days + 10 %
reporting < 2 days + 25 %
Tariffs of Other Commercial Trace Element Analysis
Laboratories
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Tariffs of Other Commercial Trace Element Analysis
Laboratories
Sample destruction 28 28
5 elements 115 45 430
5 days’ turn around time 12 5 43
Measurement in weekend 127 50 476
Total € 392 128 949
Delft INAA tariff 5 elements, 1 measurement € 87.50-100
Delft, full multi-element analysis INAA € 205
AAS ICP XRF
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Niches for NAA ?
Be careful…
Multi-element ? Non-destructive ?Sensitive ?Accurate ?
Too slowNot automated Retiring staff, inexperienced newcomers
ICP tooLA-ICP, SS-AAS, TR-XRF tooICP, AAS, AMS too, and often much betterYou better be !
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
New Tools for NAA/NAT Groups
Technical improvements
Better and bigger detectors, up to 200 % rel.eff. (max. Ø 10 cm , Length 12 cm Volume appr. 900 cm3)
High count rate electronicsLarge samplesPosition-sensitive (strip) detectorsMore software (MC, image processing)
Remaining shortcomings
No automation Not equipped for parallel requestsHigh value after +/- signBlack boxNot always customer oriented optimization
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Bigger Detectors
100 10000.1 %
1 %
10 %
100 %
3000
Absolute photopeak efficiency
75 cm3 (17 %) 4 cm
560 cm3 well
Photon energy, keV
0.3 % 20 %
3 % 90 %
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Typical improvement in detection limits
20 %
100 %
well125 cm3
Arbitrary units
0,01 0,1 1
0,01 0,1 0,25-0,3 1
0,01 0,1 0,15-0,25 1
Bigger Detectors
well560 cm3
0,01 0,1 1
0,07 - 0,1
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Higher Count Rates
(ORTEC DSPEC Plus)
Peak area
Peak position and resolution
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
+ Larger mass compensates low neutron flux with small and medium flux reactors
+ Better signal-to-blank ratio
+ Better representativeness of population sampled
- Larger sample-detector distance
?
Use of Large Sample Masses
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 400
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Sc
am
oun
t p
er
voxe
l ( g
)
Height relative to CM sample (cm)
Homogenization problems
Representative sampling problems
Non-invasive localization of inhomogeneities
Use of Large Sample Masses
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
• Electronic Waste
• Inhomogeneous Minerals, Mine Tailings
• Food products
• Environmental samples (e.g. downfall from trees)
• Drill Cores, Inhomogeneous topsoil
• Archaeological and Cultural Artifacts
• Complete organs/carcasses
Use of Large Sample Masses
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
Threats for NAT’s & NAG’s
John Lenihan’s precepts nos. 1 and 3 for making mistakes in solving problems
1. Never mind the question, let’s get some answers
2. Never mind the signal, let’s enjoy the noise
3. If it’s been done before, keep on doing it
4. If we can’t think of a simple answer, let’s look for a complicated one
5. If the answer is not what we want, let’s try the “fudge factor”
6. Never mind the target, aim at what we can see
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
CONCLUSION
There is a market for nuclear analytical laboratories
Go find the customers
But:
It takes months to find a customer, and seconds to loose him !
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Dr. P.Bode, Associate Professor Radiochemistry
Delft University of Technology, Reactor Institute DelftMekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlandstel. 31-15-2783530 fax. 31-15-2783906 e-mail [email protected]
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING