Novel Fluorescence
PELL has created the world’s most versatile fluorescence analysis facility for discovery and application of new fluorescence signals, commencing with the goal of creating the first field-deployable sensors for on-site mineral identification in real-time for mining and mineral processing.
The PELL NF apparatus suite has capabilities spanning cryogenic-to-high temperature measurement, single and multiphoton fluorescence over an excitation and detection wavelength range spanning from UV to mid-wave infrared (MWIR), sensitive fluorescence spectral excitation and emission mapping and fluorescence lifetime measurements. Using our suite of tuneable lasers delivering hard UV to MWIR, spectrometers, imagers and fluorimeters, PELL is the global pioneer of research into new modalities of fluorescence analysis made accessible using these modern technologies.
This innovative “Novel Fluorescence” (NF) capability is opening new fields of application requiring real-time, stand-off sensing; NF enables both detection and identification of a wide range of materials, including for mineral processing control, resource analysis in Space, and biological and chemical analysis, for example potentially for skin damage (burns, cancer) assessment and for monitoring fuel for aging (degradation) and contamination, and potentially for provenancing.
In addition to NF research and sensor development, the Laboratory explores fluorescence properties of newly designed materials, such as optical fibre, fluorescent taggants, and upconversion glasses. The facility both enables fluorescence discovery and characterization, giving the deep understanding required for the design of novel fluorescence-based field deployable sensors.
The ability of NF to identify a tiny proportion of target material in a complex environment is shown here by a single zircon grain in a tube of sediment grains, photographed in white light (LHS) and for comparison imaged in its own NF (near-IR) fluorescence emission (RHS).
New classes of materials sensor for terrestrial mining applications
- Fluorine-bearing minerals – phosphates, fluorapatite, fluorite, possibly clay-hosted – can be both valuable ores or significant contaminants for the mining industry (especially coal). We have reported the first real-time sensor for detecting and identifying species including fluorite and fluorapatites at concentrations < 100 ppm.
- Lithium – hard-rock ore – we have created a spodumene sensing system in collaboration with Rio Tinto for mining and mineral processing, which in trials has achieved success rates far exceeding any other class of mineral sensor. It is also providing valuable in spodumene processing for assessing the degree of calcination, and a prototype sensor is currently deployed in NSW at a processing company, for evaluation.
- Rare Earth Elements (REE) – we have developed a sensor which identifies the extractable component of Neodymium in ionically-bound clay-hosted REE’s, and showed for the site studied that NF is far superior to any existing field technique for measurement of REEs either directly or by proxy.
- Concrete and Drilling mud – funded projects (AEA and Defence Trailblazer programs) are underway investigating Concrete – aggregate mineralogy and substitutional cementitious material (SCM) identification and QA - and Drilling mud - mineral species identification and quantification of drill head chip.
Specific applications requiring real-time sensing.
- Asbestos detection and quantification (and possibly species identification) – construction, renovations, contaminated sites, mining etc. PELL has received funding from the Federal Gov Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency (ASSEA), and an ARC Linkage, in order to develop a NF sensor for asbestos which will undergo commercialisation through spin-off company TeraGlo.
- Chemical agents such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) etc.,
- Fuel (fuel purity and potentially provenance)
- Explosives – (ongoing incomplete study with some very interesting results)
- Biological – bacterial signatures and investigation of antibacterial light
- Human sensing – such as burns assessment, possibly skin cancer diagnosis and point of care in vivo analysis.
The Novel Fluorescence technology is being commercialised by spin-off company TeraGlo (www.teraglo.io), hence the apparatus suite is not described in greater detail here.
