US-New Zealand Cooperative Research into the Development andApplication of a New Method for Separation of Uranium-SeriesIsotopes

提案目标和与项目目标的相关性：美国调查人员将与位于新西兰下赫特的核科学研究所的威廉·詹姆斯·麦凯布合作，为期两年。该项目旨在开发和应用一种分离同位素的新方法。新西兰核科学研究所的无线电化学小组开发了一种从地质样品中化学分离铀、钍和原金属的新方法。该方法基于温控离子交换技术和旋转圆盘电沉积，提供了这些元素的定量回收。该项目旨在通过同时分离钋、镭、铅和其他元素来改进该方法。除了进一步加强这项新技术外，还计划对这两个机构正在进行的研究项目进行几项应用。这些项目包括对佛罗里达州西南部地下水的放射化学污染的研究，以及新西兰更新世阶地的年代测定。美国和新西兰科学家的技术和专业知识的结合有助于实现该计划的目标，即促进对两国互惠互利的研究。优点：在美国调查人员的进一步开发下，新西兰首创的这项技术的使用具有相当大的继续受益的潜力。将这项技术引入美国将提供一个机会，扩大海洋科学中常见的小而低产量样品的可用测年技术。该项目已得到海洋地质和地球物理方案的高度优先资助，并将在新西兰合作方案执行机构的同意下进行。与其他项目和资金的关系：这里提出的研究代表了目前得到海洋地质计划(OCE85-20724)和佛罗里达州环境法规部门支持的国内研究工作的国际合作努力的补充。不存在资金重复，因为该奖项只提供国外旅行、通信和样品运输支持。

Proposal Objectives and Relevance to Program Objectives: The U.S. investigators will work with William James McCabe from the Institute of Nuclear Sciences located at Lower Hutt, New Zealand, over a period of two years. The project is aimed at the development and application of a new method for the separation of isotopes. The radio chemistry group at New Zealand's Institute of Nuclear Sciences has developed a new process for the chemical separation of uranium, thorium, and protoactinium from geologic samples. The method, based on temperature-controlled ion exchange techniques and rotating disc electrodeposition, provides quantitative recoveries of these elements. This project seeks to improve the method by including simultaneous separation of polonium, radium, lead, and other elements. In addition to further enhancement of this new technique, several applications to on-going research projects at both institutions are planned. These projects include a study of radiochemical contamination of ground water in southwest Florida and dating of Pleistocene terraces in New Zealand. The combination of techniques and of expertise of the U.S. and New Zealand scientists helps fulfill the objective of the Program of promoting research of mutual benefit to both countries. Merit: The use of the technique pioneered in New Zealand with the further development by the U.S. investigators holds considerable potential for continued benefits. The introduction of this technology into the U.S. will provide an opportunity to expand the available dating techniques for small, low-yield samples common in ocean sciences. The project has been recommended by the Marine Geology and Geophysics Program for funding with high priority, and will take place with the concurrence of the New Zealand executive agent for the cooperative program. Relation to Other Projects and Funding: The research proposed here represents the addition of an international collaborative effort to research currently being supported domestically by the Marine Geology Program (OCE 85-20724) and by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. There is no duplication of funding, as this award provides only foreign travel, communication and support for the shipping of samples.