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Application of Tagged Neutron Method for Element Analysis of Phosphorus Ore

Received: 23 November 2020    Accepted: 9 December 2020    Published: 16 December 2020
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Abstract

The results of testing of AGP-F analyser based on the tagged neutron method on the phosphorus ores of the Kovdor deposit are presented. The tagged neutron method (TNM) consists in irradiating the ore with fast neutrons with energy of 14 MeV and recording the characteristic radiation of gamma quanta from reactions of inelastic neutron scattering in certain time intervals between the emission of a neutron and the arrival of a signal from a gamma quantum. Unique possibility of TNM is information about time between signals from α- and γ-detectors. It allows selecting γ-rays coming only form the object under study. Using TNM allows increasing signal/background ratio by factor 200. Another advantage of TNM in comparison with other methods of ore express analysis is high penetration ability of 14 MeV neutrons. The experimental setup consists of neutron generator with 9 α-channels and 12 γ-detectors. It allows determining the elemental composition of ore in the field conditions without any sample preparation. The tests show that for moisture of the sample up to 20% the difference between results of dry and wet sample analysis does not exceed the reproducibility limit. The reason is the possibility to determine concentration of oxygen that is provided by TNM. It is possible to measure the large samples of 1-2 kg with accuracy, reasonable for the field measurements, in 10-15 minutes.

Published in International Journal of Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijmpem.20200504.11
Page(s) 54-59
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Tagged Neutron Method, Fast Neutrons, Neutron Generator, Phosphate Ore

References
[1] Aleхakhin V. Y. et al., Determination of the elemental composition of geological rocks and minerals by the method of tagged neutrons. 23-rd International Seminar on Interaction of Neutrons with Nuclei: Fundamental Interactions & Neutrons, Nuclear Structure, Ultracold Neutrons, Related Topics (ISINN-23). Dubna, Russia, May 25–29, 2015.
[2] V. Valkovic, 14 MeV Neutrons: Physics and Applications // ISBN-13: 978-1482238006.
[3] Alexakhin V. Y. et al., Detection of Diamonds in Kimberlite by the Tagged Neutron Method. Nuclear Instruments and Methods A785 (2015) 9.
[4] V. M. Bystritsky et al., Physics of Particles and Nuclei Letters, 2008, Volume 5, p. 441.
[5] IMA Engineering. ‘‘Innovative Mineral Analyzers’’. 2014. http://www.ima.fi/products.
[6] Indutech GmbH Germany. ‘‘Online and Offline Measurements with Instruments from Indutech’’. 2014. http://www.indutech.com.
[7] Khelifi, Selma & Ayari, Fadhila & Tiss, Houcine & Ben Hassen Chehimi, Dalila. (2017). X-ray fluorescence analysis of Portland cement and clinker for major and trace elements: Accuracy and precision. Journal of the Australian Ceramic Society. 53.
[8] D. Cremers, L. Radziemski., ‘‘Handbook of Laser-Induced Break-down Spectroscopy’’. Chichester, UK: John Wiley and Sons, 2006.
[9] Harmon, Russell & Lawley, Christopher & Watts, Jordan & Harraden, Cassady & Somers, Andrew & Hark, Richard. (2019). Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy-An Emerging Analytical Tool for Mineral Exploration. Minerals. Volume 9.
[10] M. Gaft, "Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for On-line Control in Mining Industry", in Imaging and Applied Optics, OSA Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2011).
[11] D. L. Death, A. P. Cunningham, L. J. Pollard. (2008). Multi-element analysis of iron ore pellets by Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Principal Components Regression. Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy. Volume 63, Issue 7, p. 763-769.
[12] Ayyalsomayajula, Krishna Kanth & Dikshit, Vivek & Yueh, Fang-Yu & Singh, Jagdish & Smith, Laura. (2011). Quantitative analysis of slurry sample by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry. 400.
[13] Eseller, Kemal & Tripathi, Markandey & Yueh, Fang-Yu & Singh, Jagdish. (2010). Elemental analysis of slurry samples with laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. Applied Optics - APPL OPT. 49.
[14] Kurth, H. & Edwards, M. (2008). Use of on-belt analysers for improved process control of conveyed materials. Proceedings: Metallurgical Plant Design and Operating Strategies (MetPlant 2008). 18-19 August 2008 Perth, WA (pp. 493-507). The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne.
[15] A. G. C Nair, K Sudarshan, N Raje, A. V. R Reddy, S. B Manohar, A Goswami. (2004). Analysis of alloys by prompt gamma-ray neutron activation. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Volume 516, Issue 1, pp. 143-148.
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  • APA Style

    Ilya Bolshakov, Maxim Kolesnik, Maxim Sorokin, Vladislav Kremenets, Egor Razinkov, et al. (2020). Application of Tagged Neutron Method for Element Analysis of Phosphorus Ore. International Journal of Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy, 5(4), 54-59. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmpem.20200504.11

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    ACS Style

    Ilya Bolshakov; Maxim Kolesnik; Maxim Sorokin; Vladislav Kremenets; Egor Razinkov, et al. Application of Tagged Neutron Method for Element Analysis of Phosphorus Ore. Int. J. Miner. Process. Extr. Metall. 2020, 5(4), 54-59. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmpem.20200504.11

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    AMA Style

    Ilya Bolshakov, Maxim Kolesnik, Maxim Sorokin, Vladislav Kremenets, Egor Razinkov, et al. Application of Tagged Neutron Method for Element Analysis of Phosphorus Ore. Int J Miner Process Extr Metall. 2020;5(4):54-59. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmpem.20200504.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijmpem.20200504.11,
      author = {Ilya Bolshakov and Maxim Kolesnik and Maxim Sorokin and Vladislav Kremenets and Egor Razinkov and Yury Rogov and Mikhail Sapozhnikov},
      title = {Application of Tagged Neutron Method for Element Analysis of Phosphorus Ore},
      journal = {International Journal of Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy},
      volume = {5},
      number = {4},
      pages = {54-59},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijmpem.20200504.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmpem.20200504.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmpem.20200504.11},
      abstract = {The results of testing of AGP-F analyser based on the tagged neutron method on the phosphorus ores of the Kovdor deposit are presented. The tagged neutron method (TNM) consists in irradiating the ore with fast neutrons with energy of 14 MeV and recording the characteristic radiation of gamma quanta from reactions of inelastic neutron scattering in certain time intervals between the emission of a neutron and the arrival of a signal from a gamma quantum. Unique possibility of TNM is information about time between signals from α- and γ-detectors. It allows selecting γ-rays coming only form the object under study. Using TNM allows increasing signal/background ratio by factor 200. Another advantage of TNM in comparison with other methods of ore express analysis is high penetration ability of 14 MeV neutrons. The experimental setup consists of neutron generator with 9 α-channels and 12 γ-detectors. It allows determining the elemental composition of ore in the field conditions without any sample preparation. The tests show that for moisture of the sample up to 20% the difference between results of dry and wet sample analysis does not exceed the reproducibility limit. The reason is the possibility to determine concentration of oxygen that is provided by TNM. It is possible to measure the large samples of 1-2 kg with accuracy, reasonable for the field measurements, in 10-15 minutes.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Application of Tagged Neutron Method for Element Analysis of Phosphorus Ore
    AU  - Ilya Bolshakov
    AU  - Maxim Kolesnik
    AU  - Maxim Sorokin
    AU  - Vladislav Kremenets
    AU  - Egor Razinkov
    AU  - Yury Rogov
    AU  - Mikhail Sapozhnikov
    Y1  - 2020/12/16
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmpem.20200504.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijmpem.20200504.11
    T2  - International Journal of Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy
    JF  - International Journal of Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy
    JO  - International Journal of Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy
    SP  - 54
    EP  - 59
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1859
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmpem.20200504.11
    AB  - The results of testing of AGP-F analyser based on the tagged neutron method on the phosphorus ores of the Kovdor deposit are presented. The tagged neutron method (TNM) consists in irradiating the ore with fast neutrons with energy of 14 MeV and recording the characteristic radiation of gamma quanta from reactions of inelastic neutron scattering in certain time intervals between the emission of a neutron and the arrival of a signal from a gamma quantum. Unique possibility of TNM is information about time between signals from α- and γ-detectors. It allows selecting γ-rays coming only form the object under study. Using TNM allows increasing signal/background ratio by factor 200. Another advantage of TNM in comparison with other methods of ore express analysis is high penetration ability of 14 MeV neutrons. The experimental setup consists of neutron generator with 9 α-channels and 12 γ-detectors. It allows determining the elemental composition of ore in the field conditions without any sample preparation. The tests show that for moisture of the sample up to 20% the difference between results of dry and wet sample analysis does not exceed the reproducibility limit. The reason is the possibility to determine concentration of oxygen that is provided by TNM. It is possible to measure the large samples of 1-2 kg with accuracy, reasonable for the field measurements, in 10-15 minutes.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Kovdorskiy Enrichment Plant Joint-stock Company, Kovdor, Murmansk Region, Russian Federation

  • Kovdorskiy Enrichment Plant Joint-stock Company, Kovdor, Murmansk Region, Russian Federation

  • Kovdorskiy Enrichment Plant Joint-stock Company, Kovdor, Murmansk Region, Russian Federation

  • Diamant Limited Liability Company, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russian Federation

  • Diamant Limited Liability Company, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russian Federation

  • Diamant Limited Liability Company, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russian Federation; Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russian Federation

  • Diamant Limited Liability Company, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russian Federation; Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russian Federation

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