Nuclear analytical methods for trace elements and their species

我的主要研究重点在于核分析，生物分析和物种形成方法的基础发展，以确定环境和毒理学兴趣元素的总浓度以及物种特异性浓度。我们开发了仪器、预富集和放射化学中子活化分析（NAA）方法，用于测量痕量和超痕量水平元素的总浓度，具有高精度、准确性、特异性和快速性，使用短寿命和中期寿命的核素。我们还开发了特殊的分离纯化方法，用于各种元素的表征，然后使用NAA进行测定。我们提出的研究计划包括六个不同的项目。其中一个项目涉及Dalhousie大学SLOWPOKE-2反应堆中子通量的表征和其他参数，用于开发基于k0-NAA的方法。另一个项目旨在评估反符合和符合-符合伽玛射线能谱法在检测中短寿命核素方面的分析优势。第三个项目涉及开发一种方法，通过使用绿色化学的云点萃取从水样中同时预浓缩金属螯合物。离子交换、液相色谱、溶剂萃取和蒸馏方法结合NAA是同时测定水和海洋样品中各种砷、锑和硒的基础。在另一个项目中，我们正在开发溶剂萃取、凝胶过滤、液相色谱、反相萃取色谱和NAA偶联酯化，用于分离和表征海洋鱼类和哺乳动物中潜在毒性的可提取有机卤素。我们还调查饮用水和食品中自然存在的放射性物质。我们开发了许多分析方法来研究牛奶中不同种类的碘。我们的研究项目为核分析、环境、营养和毒理学化学的本科生和研究生、博士后和访问科学家提供培训。

The main focus of my research lies in the fundamental development of nuclear analytical, bioanalytical and speciation methods for the determination of total as well as species-specific concentrations of elements of environmental and toxicological interest. We develop instrumental, preconcentration and radiochemical neutron activation analysis (NAA) methods for measuring total concentrations at the trace and ultra-trace levels of elements with high precision, accuracy, specificity, and rapidity using short- and medium-lived nuclides. We also develop special separation and purification methods for the characterization of various species of elements followed by their determination using NAA. Our proposed research program consists of six different projects. One of these projects involves the characterization of the Dalhousie University SLOWPOKE-2 reactor neutron flux and other parameters for the development of k0-NAA based methods. Another project is designed to evaluate the analytical advantages of anti-coincidence and coincidence-coincidence gamma-ray spectrometry for the detection of short- and medium-lived nuclides. A third project deals with the development of a method for the simultaneous preconcentration of metal chelates from aqueous samples by cloud point extraction using green chemistry. A combination of ion exchange, liquid chromatography, solvent extraction, and distillation methods in conjunction with NAA is the basis for the simultaneous determination of various species of arsenic, antimony and selenium in aqueous and marine samples. In another project, we are developing solvent extraction, gel filtration, liquid chromatography, reversed-phase extraction chromatography, and esterification coupled to NAA for the separation and characterization of potentially toxic extractable organohalogens in marine fish and mammals. We also investigate naturally occurring radioactive materials in drinking water and foods. We develop a number of analytical methods for studying various species of iodine in milk. Our research program provides training of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctorates, and visiting scientists in nuclear analytical, environmental, nutritional and toxicological chemistry.