Element Specific Smart Media for Fast, Low Cost Radionuclide Analyses

放射性分析目前对混合物和/或未知物质非常具有挑战性。正如福岛污水取样所证明的那样，降低放射性样品的分析时间和成本是极其重要的。在这一分析领域，迫切需要一种渐进式的技术进步。适用于一套放射性分析物的系统的技术质量具有重大意义，因为这些是进入退役的发电厂的关键放射性核素目标。我们的目标是开发一种快速和低成本的方法来分析含有放射性核素污染物混合物的低水平废物（LLW）样品，并利用现有的闪烁计数基础设施。我们将开发新的闪烁体，选择性地靶向放射性核素在流动的LLW水相。该方法只需对含水LLW进行最少的处理和操作，并大大减少了商业闪烁鸡尾酒中通常使用的有机溶剂的体积，从而降低了分析成本和时间，减少了对整体环境的影响。该方法还将允许平行，快速分析不同的放射性核素目标，通过使用不同的闪烁珠的混合物为每个目标分析物。因此，对更广泛的放射性核素进行更快分析的好处不仅可以在核补救领域实现，而且可以在事故情景、应急、复原力和国土安全领域实现。该项目源于（全球）核工业对快速和选择性分析的未满足和迫切需求，因此通过我们与NDA， NNL的直接合作以及我们与国际核工业及其利益相关者的更广泛接触，创造了产生影响的途径。

Radioactive analyses are currently very challenging for mixtures and/or unknowns. Lowered analysis time, and therefore cost, of radioactive samples is extremely important, as demonstrated by Fukushima effluent sampling. A step-change technological advance in this area of analysis is urgently required. The technological quality of a system applicable to a suite of radioactive analytes has major relevance since these are key radionuclide targets for power plants entering decommissioning.Our aim is to develop a fast and low cost approach to analysing low level waste (LLW) samples containing a mixture of radionuclide contaminants and exploiting existing scintillation counting infrastructure. We will develop novel scintillants that selectively target radionuclides in a mobile LLW aqueous phase. The approach will require minimal work-up and manipulation of aqueous LLW, and dramatically reduce the volumes of organic solvent typically used in commercial scintillant cocktails, thus reducing the cost and time of analysis, and overall environmental impact. This methodology will also allow parallel, rapid analyses of different radionuclide targets by using a mixture of different scintillant beads for each targeted analyte.The benefit of faster analyses for the wider suite of radionuclides could therefore be realised not only in the area of nuclear remediation, but also in accident scenarios, contingency, resilience and homeland security. The project has arisen from an unmet and urgent need within the (global) nuclear industry for rapid and selective analyses, thus creating the pathway to impact through our immediate partnership with NDA, NNL and our wider engagement with the international nuclear industry and its stakeholders.