Development of a portable battery-powered total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear analytical chemistry
• Portable instrumentation

Background:

• On-site nuclear material detection is vital for safety during leaks or accidents.
• Portable total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometers typically require external power, limiting their field applicability.
• Analysis of long half-life nuclides like uranium isotopes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To modify a portable TXRF spectrometer for battery-powered, on-site operation.
• To enable outdoor TXRF analysis in locations lacking external power sources.
• To assess the performance of the modified portable TXRF device for uranium detection.

Main Methods:

• Modification of a commercial portable TXRF spectrometer for battery operation.
• Analysis of uranium content in a sample solution using yttrium as an internal standard.
• Evaluation of the device's sensitivity and detection limits.

Main Results:

• A functional battery-powered portable TXRF spectrometer was developed.
• The modified device achieved a comparable relative sensitivity coefficient to the commercial version.
• The limit of detection for uranium was found to be deteriorated compared to the commercial spectrometer.

Conclusions:

• The battery-powered TXRF spectrometer facilitates on-site nuclear material analysis in remote or power-limited environments.
• Further equipment improvements are needed to optimize the limit of detection for field applications.
• The developed device shows promise for efficient and rapid on-site TXRF analysis, enhancing nuclear safety protocols.