Nuclear analytical methods for trace elements and their species

我的研究的主要重点在于核分析，生物分析和物种形成方法的基本发展，用于确定环境和毒理学感兴趣的元素的总浓度和物种特异性浓度。我们开发仪器，预浓缩和放射化学中子活化分析（NAA）方法，用于测量痕量和超痕量元素的总浓度，具有高精度，准确性，特异性和快速性，使用短寿命和中寿命核素。我们还开发了特殊的分离和纯化方法，用于各种元素的表征，然后使用NAA进行测定。我们的研究计划包括六个不同的项目。这些项目之一涉及表征达尔豪西大学SLOWPOKE-2反应堆中子通量和其他参数的发展k 0-NAA为基础的方法。另一个项目旨在评价反符合和符合-符合伽马射线能谱法在检测短寿命和中寿命核素方面的分析优势。第三个项目涉及开发一种方法，利用绿色化学通过浊点萃取从水样中同时预浓缩金属螯合物。结合离子交换，液相色谱，溶剂萃取，蒸馏方法与NAA是同时测定各种砷，锑和硒在水和海洋样品的基础。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，酯化耦合到NAA的海洋鱼类和哺乳动物中潜在有毒的可提取的有机卤素的分离和表征。 我们还调查饮用水和食品中天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的各种碘。我们的研究计划提供本科生和研究生，博士后和访问科学家在核分析，环境，营养和毒理学化学的培训。

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.