Inventors:
Steven H. Peterson - Murrysville PA
Edward J. Lahoda - Edgewood Borough PA
David C. Grant - Gibsonia PA
Edward F. Sverdrup - North Huntingdon PA
Thomas V. Congedo - Edgewood PA
John Bartko - State College PA
Robert E. Witkowski - West Mifflin PA
Arthur L. Wolfe - Murrysville PA
William D. Partlow - Forest Hills PA
Michael C. Skriba - Irvine CA
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
G21F 900, B07C 534
Abstract:
The concentrations of residual heavy metal contaminants in the particulate material in a slurry produced in a particulate material washing process are monitored on-line and can be used to control the washing process. In alternative embodiments of the invention, x-rays, thermal neutrons or laser beams are directed at the slurry as it flows through a flow cell to induce emission of secondary x-rays, gamma rays or light, respectively, characteristic of the heavy metal contaminants and constituents representative of the solids contents of the slurry. These characteristic energies are measured and used to determine the concentration in ppm of the residual heavy metal contaminants in the particulate material within the slurry.