New radioanalytical tools for the detection of naturally-occurring and anthropogenic radionuclides

几年前，核能被视为一种环保的替代能源，可以减少我们对化石燃料的依赖，以满足日益增长的全球电力需求。现在，福岛-大池核电站事故以及许多国家暂停开采铀矿，已经极大地改变了预期中的复兴。 然而，核科学中的许多科学挑战依然存在：许多核电站退役、核废料数量增加、在治疗和诊断中越来越多地使用电离辐射，以及关于低剂量辐射的影响的辩论。 关于放射性核素在环境中的行为及其对包括人类在内的生物群的影响，还有很多需要了解。我们需要更好的放射性测量、评估和监测，以确保周围人口和环境的设施安全运行。新的放射分析方法(例如，样品制备、测量、自动化)将使监测更快、更具成本效益。 在我们之前的发现赠款中，我们专注于开发新的放射分析工具，用于检测和量化超铀元素。基于我们实验室取得的成功分析进展(浊点提取、用于放射化学的新型功能化材料、自动化)，我们将结合分析化学中的新概念和新工具，将我们的研究扩展到其他难以检测的放射性核素。 在这项提议所涵盖的研究期间，我们将研究和开发新的化学和仪器方法，以促进工业、生物和环境基质中天然和人为放射性核素的检测和量化。 现在，我们将研究： ·在CPE中使用新的配位体，用于其他放射性核素的预浓缩，并开发多组分和多分析CPE用于环境样品。 ·CPE与简单的流体设计和光检测相结合，用于现场定量液体样品中的铀(有利于采矿业、核工人生物分析和井水所有者)。 ·串联四极电感耦合等离子体质谱快速检测难以检测的放射性核素(一种减少峰拖尾和限制干扰物种形成的新方法) ·通过设计微电池，同时进行预浓缩和加强样品到血浆的转移，在同一固体载体上进行吸附和产生挥发性物质(氢化物、烷化)。 这些分析创新将提供更快、准确和具有成本效益的工具，以评估和最大限度地减少环境影响，提高我们在超低水平检测和量化环境中可能排放的放射性核素的能力，并为帮助保护动植物免受电离辐射提供科学支持。

A few years ago nuclear power was seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for growing global electricity needs. Now the Fukushima-Daichii accidents and a uranium mining moratorium in many countries have significantly altered the expected renaissance. However, many scientific challenges remain in nuclear sciences: the decommissioning of numerous nuclear power plants, increasing quantities of nuclear waste, increasing use of ionizing radiation in therapy and diagnostics, and the debate about the effects of low doses of radiation. Much remains to be learned about the behaviour of radionuclides in the environment and their impact on the biota, including humans. We need better measurement, evaluation, and monitoring of radioactivity to ensure safe facility operation for the surrounding populations and environments. New radioanalytical methodologies (e.g. preparation of sample, measurements, automation) will enable faster, more cost-effective monitoring. In our previous discovery grant, we focussed on the development of new radioanalytical tools for the detection and quantification of transuranium elements. Based on the successful analytical progress emerging from our laboratory (cloud point extraction, novel functionalized materials for radiochemistry, automation) we will extend our research to other hard-to-detect radionuclides by incorporating new and emerging concepts and tools in analytical chemistry. In the research period covered by this proposal, we will investigate and develop new chemical and instrumental approaches to facilitate the detection and quantification of naturally occurring and anthropogenic radionuclides in industrial, biological and environmental matrices. Now, we will study: • Use of new ligands in CPE for the preconcentration of other radionuclides and the development of multiconstituants and multianalysis CPE for environmental samples. • CPE coupled with a simple fluidic design and light detection for on-site quantification of U in liquid samples (beneficial to mining industry, nuclear worker bioassays, and well water owners). • tandem-quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the rapid detection of hard-to-detect radionuclides (a new approach to reduce peak tailing and limit interfering species formation) • simultaneous preconcentration and enhanced sample-to-plasma transfer via the design of a microcell where adsorption and the generation of volatile species (hydride, alkylated) will occur on the same solid support. These analytical innovations will provide faster, accurate and cost-effective tools to assess and minimize environmental impacts, increasing our ability to detect and quantify possible emissions of radionuclides in the environment at ultra-low levels, and provide scientific support to help protect flora and fauna from ionizing radiation.