First Large Scale Production of Low Radioactivity Argon From Underground Sources

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1204.6024
• Publication Date: 2012-01-01
• Authors: Henning Back; E. de Haas; C. Galbiati; A. Nelson; C. Condon; David Montanari; Augusto Goretti; Andrea Inanni; T. Hohman; R. Ford; Frank Calaprice; B. Loer; A. Pocar
• Keywords: High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex); 0103 physical sciences; FOS: Physical sciences; Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics; 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy; Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM); High Energy Physics - Experiment

We report on the first large-scale production of low radioactivity argon from underground gas wells. Low is general interest, in particular for construction large scale WIMP dark matter searches and detectors reactor neutrinos non-proliferation efforts. Atmospheric has an activity about 1 Bq/kg decays 39Ar; concentration 39Ar we are collecting at least a factor 100 lower than this value. The collected stream CO2 well southwestern Colorado with Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption (VPSA) plant. contains 400-600 ppm, VPSA plant produces output level 30,000-50,000 ppm (3-5%) single pass. This sent further processing to Fermilab where it purified by cryogenic distillation. rate presently 0.5 kg/day.