New technologies for radionuclide measurement

该项目的全球目标是开发、测试和示范用于测量放射性核素的新的质谱方法的应用。本项目为国家科学研究委员会环境科学与技术优先项目。我们的研究旨在开发新的方法来测量由核活动释放到淡水中的放射性核素。根据NSERC的优先事项#1，我们正在解决水问题，我们的工作将有助于确保社区供水系统的安全。在这个项目中，将开发新的质谱技术，使用云点提取技术与配备三重四极柱和反应室的电感耦合质谱仪相结合。这种方法将提供对水质评价和环境保护具有重要意义的放射性核素的快速和经济措施。

The global goal of this project is to develop, test and demonstrate the applications of new mass spectrometric methods of measuring radionuclides. This project addresses the NSERC priority #1 on Environmental Science and Technologies. Our research seeks to develop novel methods to measure radionuclides released into fresh water by nuclear activities. Under NSERC Priority #1 we are addressing water issues and our work will help to ensure secure community water systems. In this project novel mass spectrometric techniques will be developed using cloud point extraction techniques coupled to an inductively coupled mass spectrometer equipped with a triple quadrapole and reaction chamber. This approach will provide rapid and economic measures of radionuclides that are important in water quality assessment and environmental protection. Once the new methods are developed, we will test them using samples provided by our industrial and governmental partners. We will use Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) as the gold standard for these tests because it has been proven to measure ultra-trace concentrations of radionuclides in complex environmental samples with very low backgrounds. We also will work closely with our partners to ensure that the methods are suitable for routine industrial lab environments. The benefits to industry and government will be the ability to undertake more cost effective and complete monitoring and measurement of radionuclide release to the aquatic environment. Canadian consulting companies will benefit from these state of the art techniques that they can use as they provide consulting services to their client companies in this important energy sector. We will also work to patent and sell the new separation and analysis technologies.