Application of Gamma Camera Imaging and SPECT Systems in Chemical Processes

Apostolos Kantzas1,2, Kelly Hamilton1,2, Taghi Zarabi1, Amit Bhargava1, Ian Wright1, Glen Brook1 and Jinwen Chen1,2

1 Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

E-mail: akantzas@ucalgary.ca.

2 Tomographic Imaging and Porous Media Laboratory, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Abstract - SPECT imaging systems are used in nuclear medicine for diagnostic imaging of heart, brain, lung and other organ functions. Radio-pharmaceuticals are injected in the blood stream of a patient. The propagation of the radio- pharmaceutical is monitored as a function of position and time using a gamma camera. In many tests, the monitoring occurs in real time. This technique has been extended for use in chemical process monitoring in our laboratory. In particular, a Siemens gamma camera with SPECT capabilities is routinely used for real time tracer studies, radioactive particle tracking and SPECT imaging. The same radio-pharmaceuticals used in medical testing are used for process monitoring. The system has been used in determining hydrodynamic properties of gas/solid and liquid/solid fluidized beds and in visualizing and monitoring of multi- phase flow phenomena in porous media.

Keywords : Gamma-camera, SPECT Imaging, Chemical Processes, Flow Imaging