Facilities at Oregon State University

 

 

Radioecology Research Laboratory (RERL) 

The Radioecology Research Laboratory focuses on the migration of radionuclides through environmental media, statistical approaches to remediating contaminated waste sites, and the application of scaling functions to predict radionuclide transport through the biosphere. In addition to the two dedicated labs, there is also a greenhouse facility where experiments are continually taking place.
 
 

Gamma Spectroscopy Facilities 

The Radiation Center hosts three separate gamma spectroscopy facilities for the detection and quantification of radioisotopes.  These include (1) our INAA facility with four high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors and associated signal chain electronics, each served by an automated sample changer for the efficient handling of large projects; (2) our Teaching Lab, with four HPGe workstations for student training and research activities; and (3) the “Rabbit” Lab, for the analysis of short half-life isotopes produced via the pneumatic transfer system.  Over the past few years, the Radiation Center (with support from the university and external granting agencies) has invested heavily in gamma spectroscopy, up-grading older analog detector electronics to state-of-the-art digital electronics and gamma spectroscopy software.  These new digital units provide improved signal processing performance, and underscore the Radiation Center’s commitment to maintaining teaching and research facilities. The radioecology research group utilizes these facilities to determine identities and quantities of radionuclides present in environmental samples ranging from water to soils to ashed marine life samples.

 

Other equipment:

Keyence VHX-1000 digital microscope, for portable, high-resolution imaging with large depth-of-field and variable-angle observation.

Perkin-Elmer Model 307 Sample Oxidizer- an automatic preparation and oxidization system for both single and dualradiolabeled samples containing 3H and/or 14C for use in liquid scintillation counting. Used for Carbon-14 analysis of dried collard green samples in colloboration with the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI).

Perkin-Elmer Tri-Carb 3180TR/SL Liquid Scintillation Analyzer  - an advanced computer-controlled bench-top super low level liquid scintillation analyzer for detecting small amounts of alpha, beta and gamma radioactivity for research and environmental monitoring; a proprietary Bismuth Germanium Oxide (BGO) detector guard provides extremely low backgrounds making the instrument ideal for low level applications. This machine is used for counting environmental samples for determination of their activity. It is particulary suited for low level environmental applications due t its built-in quench corrections and BGO shielding. 

 

 

1.1 MW TRIGA Mark II Pulsing Research Reactor 

A water-cooled research reactor which uses uranium/zirconium hydride fuel elements in a circular grid array. The reactor is licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to operate at maximum steady state power of 1.1 MW, and can also be pulsed up to a peak power of about 3000 MW. The reactor has a variety of irradiation facilities available. OSU is one of only 12 universities in the country with a TRIGA research reactor. The reactor is housed in the OSU Radiation Center. It is routinely used for Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), which is a highly sensitive method for determining elemental concetrations in a sample of interest.