In the current analytical practice determination of nongamm-emitting radionuclides relies on manual radiochemical analysis methods performed in centralized laboratories. Manual methods are not well suited to support nuclear waste processing and long-term environmental monitoring applications. Our research is directed at the development of chemical and instrumentation approaches towards automated radiochemical analysis and radionuclide-specific sensing, Our overall approach is based on integrating selective separation chemistries and radiation detection instruments within a single functional sensor or analyzer device. Examples of selective radiometric sensing of beta- and alpha-emitters in water will be described. Analysis of total 99Tc and actinides in aged nuclear waste samples will be presented as examples of automated analytical procedures and analyzer instruments.
Revised: March 9, 2004 |
Published: January 1, 2003
Citation
Egorov O.B., M.J. O'Hara, R.S. Addleman, and J.W. Grate. 2003.Automation of Radiochemical Analysis: From Groundwater Monitoring to Nuclear Waste Analysis. In ACS Symposium Series: Radioanalytical Methods in Interdisciplinary Research., edited by Carola A. Laue and Kenneth L. Nash, 868, 246-270. Washington D.C.:American Chemical Society.PNNL-SA-38624.