Two drums of scrap metal were presented for Analysis using the RTI Allscan test rig PGNAA gauge. The inhomogeneity and particle size of the waste means the estimated elemental compositions from a single test will not be accurate.
It was found that at typical sampling periods of one to five minutes on a conveyor belt, all the major elements in the waste can be detected and quantified to good accuracy. The inhomogeneity of the waste rather than the gauge accuracy is likely to determine the accuracy of a PGNAA gauge installed on a waste steam in this application.