Analytical strategy for radionuclides

This teaching unit covers various aspects related to the measurement of radionuclides in solution and the analytical strategy to be implemented in order to achieve reliable measurements. All radiochemical techniques will be introduced, including isotopic labeling and dilution, and separation and purification methods prior to radioactive measurement. An important part of this teaching unit will also focus on the choice of instrumental techniques depending on the radionuclide in question, the expression of a counting result taking into account measurement uncertainties, and the statistical approach associated with nuclear counting.

Hourly volumes:

            CM: 12 p.m.

            Tutorial: 8 hours

The objective of this teaching unit is to address measurement techniques related to determining the activity of actinides and other radionuclides present in potentially complex aqueous environments, to understand their behavior in different environments, and to address the concepts of analytical strategy, particularly through measurement, metrology, and the study of available analytical methods.

Basic elements of radioactivity

Chemistry of solutions applied to actinides

Continuous assessment

• Radiochemical methods associated with separation, purification, and radioactive measurement
• Introduction to isotopic dilution and isotopic labeling: definition of mass-dependent and mass-independent fractionation, concepts of statistical thermodynamics, isotopic exchange kinetics, mathematical formalism for determining the concentration of an element after adding an isotopic dilution tracer. Impact of isotopic exchange on the preparation of a labeled solution.
• Choice of instrumental techniques depending on the nature of the radionuclide
  • Description, operation, and sensitivity of mass spectrometers used for radionuclides: ICP-MS, accelerator mass spectrometers, resonant ionization mass spectrometers, and thermal ionization mass spectrometers.
  • Description, operation, and sensitivity of nuclear spectrometers: gamma, alpha, and liquid scintillation spectrometry.
• Expression of results taking uncertainties into account: use of the law of error propagation, number of significant digits in radioactive measurement results
• Statistical approach to nuclear counting: definition of the decision threshold and detection limit. Calculation of the best estimator of the measurement result using two approaches: classical and Bayesian.

Lectures and tutorials will be supplemented by case studies and bibliographic tutorials.

Administrative contact(s): Master's in Chemistry Secretariat

Master's degree in Chemistry @ umontpellier.fr