Analyzing alpha emitting isotopes of Pu, Am and Cm from NPP water samples: an intercomparison of Nordic radiochemical laboratories

Radioanalytical methods for the determination of isotopes of Pu, Am and Cm in water samples from nuclear power plants were compared and further developed in a Nordic project (Optimethod) through two intercomparison exercises among Nordic laboratories. With this intercomparison, the analytical performance of some laboratories was improved by modification of the analytical method and adopting new techniques. The obtained results from the two intercomparisons for alpha emitting transuranium isotopes are presented, and the lessons learnt from these intercomparison exercises are discussed.

Radioanalytics – An Indispensable Tool for Radiological and Nuclear Safety

The exact knowledge on the inventory of a radioactive sample is a precondition to act appropriately in terms of nuclear safety. Radioanalytical methods aimed to determine the radionuclide content of activated material play therefore a central role regarding safe operation of nuclear installations, protection of personnel, inhabitants and environment as well as for the design and construction of new facilities. The article gives an overview on the broad variety of analysis and measurement methods, describes necessary chemical separation procedures and explains the impact for nuclear safety assessment in the field of radioanalytics at the Paul Scherrer Institut Villigen, Switzerland. It addresses both the safe routine operation of nuclear installations, which can be a challenge to our radiometric capabilities and refers to selected radioanalytical research projects.

Vocabulary of radioanalytical methods (IUPAC Recommendations 2020)

These recommendations are a vocabulary of basic radioanalytical terms which are relevant to radioanalysis, nuclear analysis and related techniques. Radioanalytical methods consider all nuclear-related techniques for the characterization of materials where ‘characterization’ refers to compositional (in terms of the identity and quantity of specified elements, nuclides, and their chemical species) and structural (in terms of location, dislocation, etc. of specified elements, nuclides, and their species) analyses, involving nuclear processes (nuclear reactions, nuclear radiations, etc.), nuclear techniques (reactors, accelerators, radiation detectors, etc.), and nuclear effects (hyperfine interactions, etc.). In the present compilation, basic radioanalytical terms are included which are relevant to radioanalysis, nuclear analysis and related techniques.

Radioanalytical Techniques to Quantitatively Assess the Biological Uptake and In Vivo Behavior of Hazardous Substances

Concern about environmental exposure to hazardous substances has grown over the past several decades, because these substances have adverse effects on human health. Methods used to monitor the biological uptake of hazardous substances and their spatiotemporal behavior in vivo must be accurate and reliable. Recent advances in radiolabeling chemistry and radioanalytical methodologies have facilitated the quantitative analysis of toxic substances, and whole-body imaging can be achieved using nuclear imaging instruments. Herein, we review recent literature on the radioanalytical methods used to study the biological distribution, changes in the uptake and accumulation of hazardous substances, including industrial chemicals, nanomaterials, and microorganisms. We begin with an overview of the radioisotopes used to prepare radiotracers for in vivo experiments. We then summarize the results of molecular imaging studies involving radiolabeled toxins and their quantitative assessment. We conclude the review with perspectives on the use of radioanalytical methods for future environmental research.

Structural curiosities of lanthanide (Ln)-modified bentonites analyzed by radioanalytical methods

The effects of pH and lanthanide (La, Y) concentration were investigated on the release of iron from Ca-bentonite crystal structure. XRF results revealed that during the Ca–H cation exchange procedure iron loss was not observed. In the case of lanthanide modifications, the pH has low influence, meanwhile the concentration of lanthanide has high influence on iron loss. Thus, high amount of trivalent lanthanides cause the structural iron release.