DETECTORS
Electron Capture Detector - ECD
OVERVIEW
TheElectronCaptureDetector(ECD) isselective toelectronegativecompounds,especiallychlorinated,
fluorinated,orbrominatedmolecules. It issensitive tosomeof thesecompounds in thepartsper trillion(ppt)
range. TheECDdetector requiresnitrogenorargon /5%methane (P5) tooperate. TheECDdetector is
mounted immediatelyadjacent to therightrearcolumnovenwallonyourSRIGCchassis. TwoBNCcables
connect theanodeandcathode, respectively, to theECDamplifier. TheECDdetectorconsistsofastainless
steelcylindercontaining5millicuriesofradioactiveNickel63 inanovenenclosure that is thermostatically
controllablefromambient temperature to375
o
C. Since thedetectorcontainsonly5millicuriesofNickel-63,
theECD iscoveredbya“GeneralLicense”requiringaperiodicwipe testand thefilingofaformwithyour
state’sDepartmentofHealth. Thedocumentationnecessary toauthorizeyourpossessionofa radioactvie
sourceisincludedintheECDmanualfromValco,themanufacturers. Thisdocumentationtransferspossession
of theECDdirectly toyoufromValco;SRIprovides theECD installationserviceand theGC. Therearefour
importantdocumentstolookfor:1)CertificationofSealedSource,2)ConditionsforAcceptanceofaGenerally
LicensedDevice,3)TestSpecifications, and4)RecordofSource
Transfer. Valcomayprintyouraddresson themultiplecopiesof
theRecordofSourceTransfer,whichare tobecompletedby
youandfiledwith theappropriatestateand localauthorities.
Theotherdocumentsremainwith theECDdetector,and
arenecessarytoproveauthorizedpossessionoftheECD.
1
2
3
4
Close-upviewof theECDdetector
onanSRIGC
ECD-equippedSRIGC
ECD
Detector
Parts kit
containing
test resistor
Trimpot setpoints
Your name &
address here
It is imperative to
complete theRecordof
SourceTransferandforward it to
properauthorities,andtofamiliarize
yourselfwiththerequirementsofyour
GeneralLicense. Youmustalsokeep
onfile theCerificationofSealed
SourceandTestSpecifications,
whichareproof thatyour
ECDdetectormeets
regulations.
