Description
SNO+ is a neutrino and neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment located 2 km underground at SNOLAB, Canada. The experiment developed a novel liquid scintillator comprising Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) as the solvent and 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) as the primary fluor, with bisMSB as a wavelength shifter. Selected for its acrylic compatibility, competitive light yield, long attenuation length, superior safety profile, chemical simplicity, and ease of handling, this formulation has since been adopted by several other neutrino physics experiments.
To meet stringent purity requirements within strict spatial constraints, a multi-process purification plant was designed and constructed underground. The facility executes vacuum distillation, gas and steam stripping, liquid-liquid extraction, and additive purification and loading. During the initial detector fill, LAB was transported underground via rail car and purified through multi-stage distillation and steam stripping at a rate of 19 LPM. In operational mode, the plant can recirculate the full detector volume every 4 days at 150 LPM, utilizing steam stripping to remove dissolved noble gases ("O" _"2" "," "Rn", "Kr, Ar"). The poster will present the purification principles, plant specifications, quality control protocols, and operational performance of the underground facility.
Please write a short description of your Poster and what experiment you are representing.
SNO+ is a neutrino and neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment located 2 km underground at SNOLAB, Canada. The experiment developed a novel liquid scintillator comprising Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) as the solvent and 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) as the primary fluor, with bisMSB as a wavelength shifter. Selected for its acrylic compatibility, competitive light yield, long attenuation length, superior safety profile, chemical simplicity, and ease of handling, this formulation has since been adopted by several other neutrino physics experiments.
To meet stringent purity requirements within strict spatial constraints, a multi-process purification plant was designed and constructed underground. The facility executes vacuum distillation, gas and steam stripping, liquid-liquid extraction, and additive purification and loading. During the initial detector fill, LAB was transported underground via rail car and purified through multi-stage distillation and steam stripping at a rate of 19 LPM. In operational mode, the plant can recirculate the full detector volume every 4 days at 150 LPM, utilizing steam stripping to remove dissolved noble gases ("O" _"2" "," "Rn", "Kr, Ar"). The poster will present the purification principles, plant specifications, quality control protocols, and operational performance of the underground facility.