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

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。

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.