Laboratory Studies of Lead Removal from Liquid Scintillator in Preparation for KamLAND's Low Background Phase

TL;DR

This study investigates lead removal techniques from liquid scintillator to achieve ultra-low background radio-purity for KamLAND, highlighting distillation as the most effective method and emphasizing the importance of addressing non-polar lead components.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence on lead removal methods, especially distillation, for ultra-low background liquid scintillator purification in neutrino experiments.

Findings

Distillation is the most effective purification method.

Non-polar, non-ionic lead components must be considered.

Achieved levels suitable for ultra-low background experiments.

Abstract

The removal of Radon induced Lead from liquid scintillator was extensively studied in preparation for KamLAND's low background phase. This work presents the results from laboratory experiments performed at the University of Alabama and their implications for KamLAND and future low background experiments using carbon based liquid scintillator. It was observed that distillation was the most effective purification procedure and that one must consider a non-polar and non-ionic component of Lead in order to reach the levels of radio-purity required for these new class of ultra-low background experiments.