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

用于检测天然和人为放射性核素的新放射性分析工具

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04216
• 负责人: Lariviere, Dominic
• 金额: $ 4.66万
• 依托单位: Université Laval
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=691264
• 关键词: New; radioanalytical; tools; detection; naturally

A decade ago, nuclear power was seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for our growing electricity needs. However, the Fukushima-Daichii accident and a uranium mining moratorium in many countries have significantly altered the expected renaissance. Many scientific challenges remain in nuclear science: the decommissioning of numerous nuclear power plants, increasing quantities of nuclear waste, increasing use of ionizing radiation in therapy and diagnostics, the impact of climate changes on the distribution of radionuclides in a vulnerable environment, radionuclide presence in mining residues (including those from rare earth mining) and fracking processes, and the debate about the effects of low doses of radiation. ******To face those challenges, we need better measurement, evaluation, and monitoring of radioactivity to assess the impact of our own activity on ourselves and our environment. New radioanalytical methodologies (e.g. preparation of samples, measurements, automation) will enable faster, more cost-effective monitoring. ******In our previous discovery grant, we focused on the development of new radioanalytical tools for the detection and quantification of transuranium elements. Based on our recent progress using emerging analytical techniques, we will extend our research to naturally-occurring and other hard-to-detect radionuclides (HTDR) 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:****** the use of new ligands in CPE for the preconcentration of other radionuclides and the development of multiconstituent and multianalysis CPE for environmental samples;****** the development of functionalized materials for the passive monitoring of radionuclides (beneficial to mining industry, nuclear worker bioassays, well water owners, and geochemists);****** the usability of inorganic mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) for the rapid detection of hard-to-detect radionuclides (a new approach to reduce peak tailing and limit interfering species formation); and****** the design of a mesofluidic lab-on-a-valve (MLOV) coupled to a enrichment volatilization module (EVM) for the simultaneous preconcentration and enhanced sample-to-plasma transfer suited for inorganic mass spectrometry of HTDR.******These analytical innovations will provide faster, more accurate and cost-effective tools to assess and minimize environmental impacts. In turn this will increase 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.*****

十年前，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，以满足日益增长的电力需求。然而，福岛第一核电站事故和许多国家暂停铀矿开采大大改变了人们对复苏的预期。核科学仍然面临许多科学挑战：许多核电厂的退役、核废料数量的增加、在治疗和诊断中越来越多地使用电离辐射、气候变化对脆弱环境中放射性核素分布的影响、采矿残留物（包括来自稀土采矿的残留物）和水力压裂过程中的放射性核素存在，以及关于低剂量辐射影响的辩论。******为了面对这些挑战，我们需要更好地测量、评估和监测放射性，以评估我们自己的活动对我们自己和环境的影响。新的放射性分析方法（如样品制备、测量、自动化）将实现更快、更具成本效益的监测。******在我们之前的发现基金中，我们专注于开发用于检测和定量超铀元素的新放射性分析工具。基于我们使用新兴分析技术的最新进展，我们将通过结合分析化学中的新兴概念和工具，将我们的研究扩展到自然发生的和其他难以检测的放射性核素（HTDR）。******在本提案所涵盖的研究期间，我们将调查和开发新的化学和仪器方法，以促进对工业、生物和环境基质中自然发生和人为产生的放射性核素的检测和定量。******现在，我们将研究：******在CPE中使用新的配体对其他放射性核素进行预浓缩，并开发用于环境样品的多组分和多分析CPE；******开发用于放射性核素被动监测的功能化材料（有利于采矿业、核工人生物分析、井水所有者和地球化学家）；******无机质谱（ICP-MS/MS）快速检测难以检测的放射性核素的可用性（一种减少峰尾和限制干扰物质形成的新方法）；******设计了一个介流控阀上实验室（MLOV）与一个富集挥发模块（EVM）耦合，用于同时预浓缩和增强样品到等离子体的转移，适用于HTDR的无机质谱。******这些分析创新将提供更快、更准确和更具成本效益的工具来评估和减少对环境的影响。反过来，这将提高我们检测和量化环境中可能的超低水平放射性核素排放的能力，并为帮助保护动植物免受电离辐射提供科学支持。*****