Analytical Strategy for Radionuclides

This course covers various aspects related to the measurement of radionuclides in solution, as well as the analytical strategy required to achieve a reliable measurement. All radiochemical techniques will be introduced, including isotopic labeling and dilution, as well as separation and purification methods performed prior to radioactive measurement. A significant part of this course will also focus on selecting instrumental techniques based on the radionuclide in question, expressing measurement results while accounting for measurement uncertainties, and the statistical approach associated with nuclear counting.

Hourly volumes*:

            CM: 12:00 p.m.

            TD: 8:00 a.m.

The objective of this course is to explore measurement techniques related to determining the activity of actinides and other radionuclides present in potentially complex aqueous media, to understand their behavior in various media, and to examine the concepts of analytical strategy, particularly through measurement, metrology, and the study of available analytical methods.

Basics of Radioactivity

Solution Chemistry Applied to Actinides

Ongoing Assessment

• Radiochemical methods related to separation, purification, and radioactivity measurement
• Introduction to isotopic dilution and isotopic labeling: definition of mass-dependent and mass-independent fractionation; concepts of statistical thermodynamics; isotope exchange kinetics; mathematical framework for determining the concentration of an element after the addition of an isotopic dilution tracer. Impact of isotope exchange on the preparation of a labeled solution
• Selection of Instrumental Techniques Based 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.
• Reporting results while taking uncertainties into account: use of the law of error propagation, number of significant figures in radioactive measurement results
• A Statistical Approach to Nuclear Counting: Definition of the decision threshold and the detection limit. Calculation of the best estimator of the measurement result using two approaches—the classical and the Bayesian.

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

Administrative contact(s): Chemistry Master's Program Office

Master's in Chemistry @ umontpellier.fr