Soil carbon measurements using inelastic neutron scattering

Carbon sequestration in soil plays a critical role in helping the world meet the challenges of climate change by reducing the atmospheric carbon dioxide. At present soil carbon is measured by taking core samples and involves extensive laboratory work. We propose a novel non-destructive in situ method for carbon analysis using the Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS) reaction. The feasibility to detect carbon in soil was demonstrated using a clinical in vivo body composition facility, located in the Medical Department at BNL. A D-T generator, operated at 55 kV, irradiated 12"×12"×14" aluminum boxes filled with 70 lb clean sand and mixtures of sand with 2%, 5% and 10% by weight carbon powder. The spectra were acquired for 1 hr and subsequently the carbon peaks were analyzed using the trapezoidal method for peak extraction. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is suitable for carbon analysis in soil