RE: Truck-scale scrap detection systems

[stephane_jeanfrancois@Merck.Com (Stephane Jeanfrancois)]

You wrote:

"Radsafers:

I am looking for some information on the truck scale detection systems used
at
scrap metal facilities to survey loads of scrap for sealed sources. The type
of
scrap I am looking at is primarily lead, however, any information related to 

steel scrap would also be helpful.

Please forward information on any papers/publications on detection system
efficiency and applicability, vendors, personal experiences with specific
systems, etc.

Please reply to me directly:

Susan Burrill
(617) 498-6221
(617) 498-7161 (fax)
burrill.s@adlittle.com

Thank you in advance for your assistance."

 ----

I know some companies such as Exploranium, Radcom, or Bicron that are in 
that type of business. I don't have the litterature on hand right now but 
I'm searching for it and fax the info to you . I do know that the first two 
companies uses gigantic plastic scintillator (PVT) that are suppose to 
detect a 1 mR/h source inside a truck. Yes, that is a publicity statement, 
sometime, there are more sensitive, sometime less, it depends, of course, on 
the type of source and the sheilding provided by the scrap inside the truck 
and the truckj itself.

My past experience indicate that Bicron , with a NaI detector, was very 
useful becaus you can also have an energy discriminator to try to identify 
the isotope detected (I-131 from diapers, Gallium, Ra-226, Thoprium etc.)  I 
can assure you that the important thing is to make sure that the users have 
a good training, otherwise, you will create a lot of unecessary attention on 
small activities or NORM.

I'll keep you posted.

Stephane Jean-Francois Phys, Eng.
RSO
Merck Frosst Canada Inc.
514. 428.8695
fax 514.428.8670
CANADA