Liquid emulsion scintillators which solidify for facile disposal

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said polymerization is accomplished by the addition of a polymerizing agent to said cocktail.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said polymerizing agent is a promoter, an initiator, a stabilizing monomer, a thickener, or a crosslinking agent.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said promoter is cobalt naphthenate.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said initiator is lauroyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide or azobisisobutyronitrile.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said stabilizing monomer is hydroxyethylmethacrylic acid or methacrylic acid.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said thickener is polyacrylic acid.

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said crosslinking agent is divinylbenzene.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein less than about 10% by weight of polymerizing agent is added to said cocktail.

Claim 11

A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein heat is applied to the solution of said cocktail and polymerizing agent.

Claim 12

A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said polymerizing agent is a comonomer which copolymerizes with the polymerizable organic scintillation solvent.

Claim 13

A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said comonomer is maleic anhydride.

Claim 14

A kit for use in liquid scintillation comprising at least one vial containing a liquid organic scintillation cocktail which is readily polymerized for disposal as a solid comprising from about 45% to about 80% by volume of a polymerizable organic solvent for an organic scintillator, a solubilizing agent in sufficient amounts to disperse an aqueous sample in said cocktail, from about 5% to about 30% by weight of an intermediate solvent and from about 0.2% to about 20% by weight of an organic scintillator and at least one vial containing polymerizing agent.

Claim 15

A kit for use in liquid scintillation comprising at least one vial containing a liquid organic scintillation cocktail which is readily polymerized for disposal as a solid comprising from about 45% to about 80% by volume of a polymerizable organic solvent for an organic scintillator, a solubilizing agent in sufficient amounts to disperse an aqueous sample in said cocktail, from about 5% to about 30% by weight of an intermediate solvent and from about 0.2% to about 20% by weight of an organic scintillator and at least one vial containing polymerizing agent.

Claim 16

The kit of claim 13 wherein said vials are made of a material which can be readily incinerated.

Claim 17

The kit of claim 14 wherein said vials are polyethylene.

Claim 18

A polymerized composition comprising the reaction product resulting from polymerization of used liquid organic scintillation cocktail and a polymerizing agent.

Claim 19

A polymerized composition comprising the reaction product resulting from polymerization of used liquid organic scintillation cocktail and a polymerizing agent.

Claim 20

A composition as claimed in claim 16 wherein the volume of polymerizing agent does not substantially contribute to the volume of said polymerized composition.

Claim 21

A composition as claimed in claim 17 wherein the concentration of said polymerizing agent is less than about 10% by weight.

Claim 22

A composition as claimed in claim 16 wherein substantially all of said liquid cocktail is polymerized.

Claim 23

A composition as claimed in claim 16 wherein said polymerized composition is sufficiently rigid to maintain its shape at ambient temperatures in the absence of externally applied pressure.