Measurement of Gold and Other Metals in Electronic and Automotive Waste Using Gamma Activation Analysis

摘要: CSIRO is developing the method of gamma activation analysis (GAA) for rapid, non-destructive gold and other metals in mineral ores. Samples are irradiated with high-energy X-rays produced using a linear electron accelerator, resulting target elements. The gamma-rays emitted during decays radioactive products these reactions can be analyzed to determine sample composition. Both incident sufficiently penetrating allow large, heterogeneous samples directly without sampling or pre-treatment. We have recently conducted preliminary study investigate application GAA bulk electronic automotive waste materials supplied by SMaRT Centre at University New South Wales. contents vary from 80 more than 800 parts-per-million (ppm), silver range 250–350 ppm; no observed material. Consequently, metal value highly variable reach up US$30,000 per tonne. Qualitative demonstrates that capable detecting economically environmentally important elements samples, including copper, bromine, tin, lead, tantalum. speed simplicity make it well suited rapid characterization.