A photometric detector driven by beta radiation

Abstract

It was recently found that typical Chromatographic carrier gases such as argon or nitrogen could be used in a modified flame photometric detector for general or selective determination of eluted molecules. The detector was powered not by a flame but by a radioactively stimulated, mild discharge. The luminescence arose from the second positive system of nitrogen (in argon), and various emissions from aroyl-containing molecules (in nitrogen).

This study describes experiments that take away not only the flame but also the discharge: The energy that produces the luminescence is derived solely from the beta decay of⁶³Ni. Because of this low power input, the sensitivity of the present beta-driven photometric detector (β-PD) is limited to about 25 ppm of nitrogen (in argon), and to about 5 pg/s for benzaldehyde and other well-responding aroyl compounds (in nitrogen). In accordance with mechanisms postulated earlier, other types of molecules do not produce significant responses in the absence of an electrical field.