Neutron methods for on-line analysis

An account is given of investigations into the application of two neutron methods to the on-line analysis of slurries. One deals with the application of the neutron moisture gauge principle to the determination of the water content of iron oxide slurries, and the other with the application of gamma radiation from thermalneutron-capture to the determination of the composition of aqueous slurries of iron oxide, copper oxide, zinc oxide, and sulfur. Linear relationships were found between the composition of the slurry and the neutron count-rate in the first study, and between the slurry composition and the prompt- gamma-court-rate in the second study. A mathematical relationship was also developed, which relates changes in the prompt-gamma counts from hydrogen to changes in slurry composition. (auth)