Scintillation counter techniques

The same data collection and reduction techniques are commonly used by the same workers for many different polymers. Therefore, data for these other polymers may contain errors on a similar scale, but that the errors have usually, but not always, gone undetected (8). If more than 500 reflections are observed, from single crystals of simple molecules, recognizable electron-density distributions have been derived from visually estimated data classified only a "weak", "medium" or "strong". The calculation of the structure becomes more sensitive to the accuracy of the intensity data as the number of data points approaches the number of variables in the structure. One problem encountered in crystal structure analyses of fibrous polymers is that of a very limited number of reflections (low data to parameter ratio). In addition, fibrous polymers usually scatter x-rays too weakly to be accurately measured by ionization or scintillation counter techniques. Therefore, the need for a critical study of the photographic techniques of obtaining accurate diffraction intensities is paramount. 

Liquid scintillation counting is by far the most common method of detection and quantitation of -emission (12). This technique involves the conversion of the emitted P-radiation into light by a solution of a mixture of fluorescent materials or fluors, called the Hquid scintillation cocktail. The sensitive detection of this light is affected by a pair of matched photomultiplier tubes (see Photodetectors) in the dark chamber. This signal is amplified, measured, and recorded by the Hquid scintillation counter. Efficiencies of detection are typically 25—60% for tritium >90% for and P and... 

Radioactivity Analysis. Samples of urine, feces, and tissues were combusted to COo and analyzed for radioactivity (5). By using this method the recovery of radioactivity from samples spiked with C was 95 dt 5%. To determine the radioactivity expired as CO2, 5-ml aliquots of the solution used to trap the CO2 were added to 15 ml of a scintillation counting solution containing 4 grams 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) and 0.1 grams l,4-bis-2(5-phenyloxazolyl)-benzene (POPOP) per liter of 1 1 toluene 2-methoxyethanol. Samples were counted for radioactivity in a Nuclear Chicago Mark II liquid scintillation counter. Counting eflSciency was corrected by the internal standard technique. 

Jensen and Hvitved-Jacobsen (1991) developed a direct method for the determination of the air-water oxygen transfer coefficient in gravity sewers. This method is based on the use of krypton-85 for the air-water mass transfer and tritium for dispersion followed by a dual counting technique with a liquid scintillation counter (Tsivoglou et al 1965,1968 Tsivoglou andNeal, 1976). A constant ratio between the air-water mass transfer coefficients for dissolved oxygen and krypton-85 makes it possible to determine reaeration by a direct method. Sulfur hexafluoride, SF6, is another example of an inert substance that has been used as a tracer for reaeration measurements in sewers (Huisman et al., 1999). 

Weak beta radiation and alpha particles often cannot penetrate the covering material but the use of a scintillant, which, together with the sample, will dissolve in a suitable solvent, enables a similar technique to be used. Liquid scintillation counters usually consist of two light-shielded photomultiplier... 

In INAA, a rock or mineral sample is irradiated in the reactor. The irradiated sample is removed from the reactor, and the dangerous radioactivities are allowed to decay. Then the sample is placed into a counter and the y-rays emitted by each element in the sample are counted. A variety of counters are used, including scintillation counters, gas ionization counters, or semi-conductor counters. For the most precise results, background counts in the detectors produced by electronic noise, cosmic rays, and other radioactive decays must be eliminated. The technique is very sensitive, and samples as small as a few tens of milligrams can be measured. 

For general purpose tracer work, however, and particularly in polymer chemistry, the liquid scintillation counter surpasses all other instruments in its sensitivity and adaptability. There is no question on the author s mind that at the present time such an instrument would be the first choice, particularly where tritium, carbon-14 or sulphur-35 were involved. Samples for assay are dissolved in a phosphor whose major solvent usually consists of toluene, toluene-alcohol, or dioxan. Many polymers and low molecular weight compounds are readily soluble in these solvents. Prospective users should not be deterred by alleged complications due to "variable quench effects" as these effects are readily corrected for via internal or external standards or the channels ratio method (7, 46, 91). Dilution quench corrections, though valid, are tedious and unnecessary. Where samples are insoluble in phosphor they may be suspended (e.g. as gels or as paper cut from chromatograms, etc.) or they can be burnt and the combustion products absorbed in a suitable phosphor solution. A modification of the Schoniger flask combustion technique is particularly suitable for this purpose (43—45). 

Low-level counting of y-ray emitters using solid scintillation counters is an extensively used technique. The most important aspect of low-level solid scintillation counting is to decrease the counter background. Typical contributions to a solid scintillation counter s background rate from various sources are shown in Table 19.3. 

Boemsen, K. O., Floeckher, J. M., and Bmin, G. J. M. (2000). Use of a microplate scintillation counter as a radioactivity detector for miniaturized separation techniques in drug metabolism. Anal. Chem. 72 3956-3959. 

Speed of Analysis. The speed with which many immunochemical analyses can be completed illustrates a major advantage of immunochemical procedures. Immunochemical assays are most time and cost effective when the sample load is large. Parker (4) estimated that a single technician could perform 100-5000 radioimmunoassays per day with little or no assay automation in comparison to 20-40 GLC assays (3). Numerous inexpensive systems are available to decrease analysis time. These systems may include solid phase separation techniques, automatic dispensers, test tube racks which will fit directly into a centrifuge and/or scintillation counter, and data handling systems. Alternatively, there are fully automated systems based on RIA or ELISA which require very little operator attention and which handle 25-240 samples/hr. Gochman and Bowie (81) have outlined the basis of operation and summarized the features of automated RIA systems and extensive literature is available from the manufacturers. 

B A eudiometer is a straight tube used to measure gas volume by liquid exclusion. A calorimeter is a device used to measure changes in heat. A manometer is a U-shaped tube used to measure pressure. A hygrometer measures humidity (Answer B). Mass is measured with a balance, radioactivity is measured with a Geiger counter or scintillation counter. Viscosity is measured with a viscometer, surface tension is measured by several different techniques. 

All radiometric assaying was performed by conventional liquid scintillation counting techniques using a Beckman LS-100 automatic scintillation counter and Ready-Solv GP scintillation solution. 

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