Hidex 600 SLe

Liquid Scintillation Counter

The standard Hidex 600 SLe is the proven benchmark for high-capacity LSCs. Used in industrial and research applications, a number of optional features are available and can be upgraded on-site post-installation.

Optional features include:

• 425-019 External standard with ¹⁵²Eu source
• 525-003 Alpha/Beta separation
• 425-2004 Temperature control
• 525-604 Sample QR code reader

The Hidex 600 SLe Super Low Level counter is designed to count challenging measurements of particularly low levels of radioactivity. It is equipped with additional lead shielding, low-level PMT detectors, and an Active Guard detector for further background reduction. It is ideal for measuring ³H in water as well as other applications such as low-level environmental monitoring, radiocarbon dating, and biofuel verification applications.

A large sample capacity of 500 small vials or 200 large vials allows laboratories to produce traceable, reproducible quantitative data.

The cooling conveyor cools samples to 5 °C below ambient room temperature in normal laboratory conditions. The conveyor’s lid is insulated to retain the target temperature for stable sample loading.

Descriptive error messages allow users to troubleshoot on-site without having to rely on external support. Additionally, a sliding detection chamber hood provides easier access to retrieve stuck vials.

The Hidex 600 SLe uses three PMTs. These are optimally aligned at 120° from each, yielding better detection geometry than conventional double coincidence detectors. This allows Triple-to-Double Coincidence Ratio (TDCR), which is an absolute counting method for obtaining counting efficiency of the samples without an external or internal standard source. Unlike external standard methods, TDCR is a universal method applicable for chemical and colour quenching, for aqueous and organic samples, and for different cocktails and isotopes.

Quench correction using an external standard source is available as an optional feature for users who prefer to continue measurements adhering to ISO methods.

An optional external ¹⁵²Eu standard source may be included for additional quench correction for users who prefer to continue measurements adhering to ISO 17025 accredited methods.

Alpha/beta separation is an optional feature of the Hidex 600 SLe. It provides extremely sensitive detection of alpha-emitting isotopes in the presence of high beta radiation. Calibration and results validation can be done using spectrum analysis. Separation even works for unknown mixtures of alpha and beta isotopes.

This reduces the possibility of measurement errors typical for conventional misclassification methods, where calibration is often done using different conditions and isotopes than those found in unknown samples. Typical applications include the detection of ²²²Rn, ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra, ²⁴¹Am and gross alpha/beta.

An optional temperature control module cools the detector and sample tray to maintain sample integrity when conducting long count times. Sample temperature stability is especially important in low-level applications, improving the reproducibility of results and cocktail sample mixing properties.

The Hidex 600 SLe is controlled by Hidex’s MikroWin software running on an external computer. Featuring quench curve analysis and half-life correction with an unlimited number of methods for different isotopes, all data can be exported to Excel or other programs.

Other counters typically feature an internal computer physically built-in to the counter itself. If these integrated computers fail, it renders the whole instrument inoperable, whereas the Hidex 600 SLe’s operations are unaffected with software running on any computer. This also allows regular software and operating system updates, meaning users always have access to the latest versions.

Featuring exclusively in the Hidex 600 SLe Super Low Level, the Active Guard is a separate scintillator detector which detects and subtracts real-time background radiation. The guard can be turned off for high-energy samples and does not interfere with alpha/beta separation.

The Hidex 600 SLe Super Low Level’s digital lead shield is a proprietary Hidex spectral fitting algorithm that decreases the background and improves the uncertainty of the results by utilising spectrum information for active sample tritium counts and background counts.

Fission and fusion measurements

Liquid scintillation counting is routinely used in nuclear power for both fission and fusion measurements. The Hidex 600 SLe’s unique three detector PMT detectors can aide in luminescence free counting and radioisotope qualification via TDCR.

Measuring naturally-occurring ¹⁴C 

Liquid scintillation counting is being increasingly used in the oil and gas industries for naturally occurring ¹⁴C measurements. The biocontent of renewable fuels such as biodiesel, biogasoline, and sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) can be measured directly with no sample preparation.  More difficult samples such as marine fuel and biobitumen can be synthesised into benzene and then measured via LSC.

Counting naturally occurring radioactive materials

Liquid scintillation counting is being for environmental and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) monitoring. The Hidex 600 SLe’s unique 2D/3D alpha/beta separation leads to zero misclassifications between alpha and beta emitters regardless of isotope keV and isotope mixture.

Developing the next generation of Liquid Scintillation Counters for super low-level analysis

The State of Washington in the US has legacy environmental contamination caused by nuclear energy, research, and material production. The Washington State Public Health Laboratories (PHL) is a public facility involved in monitoring sites such as the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, which was originally built as part of the Manhattan Project and used for plutonium production during the Cold War.

Following a rigorous tender process with a demanding specification, PHL procured the original Hidex 600 SL. However, following installation a unique fault occurred due to local conditions, which eventually lead to Hidex redesigning the counter to deliver the new 600 SLe. We spoke to Bud Taylor, Supervisor of PHL’s Environmental and Radiation Chemistry Group, and Chemist Danny Bell about the problem and how it was resolved.

Find out what they had to say by clicking the button below.

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