A Scintillator Purification System for the Borexino Solar Neutrino Detector

Authors :: Benziger, J.
Cadonati, L.
Calaprice, F.
Chen, M.
Corsi, A.
Dalnoki-Veress, F.
Fernholz, R.
Ford, R.
Galbiati, C.
Goretti, A.
Harding, E.
Ianni, Aldo
Ianni, Andrea
Kidner, S.
Leung, M.
Loeser, F.
McCarty, K.
McKinsey, D.
Nelson, A.
Pocar, A.
Salvo, C.
Schimizzi, D.
Shutt, T.
Sonnenschein, A.
Source :: Nucl.Instrum.Meth.A587:277-291,2008
Publication Year :: 2007
Abstract: Purification of the 278 tons of liquid scintillator and 889 tons of buffer shielding for the Borexino solar neutrino detector was performed with a system that combined distillation, water extraction, gas stripping and filtration. The purification of the scintillator achieved unprecedented low backgrounds for the large scale liquid scintillation detector. This paper describes the principles of operation, design, construction and commissioning of the purification system, and reviews the requirements and methods to achieve system cleanliness and leak-tightness.<br />Comment: submitted to Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A, revised after review