Challenge 2. Developing and applying new materials for radioactivity measurements
Adequate evaluation of scenarios potentially affected by the presence of pollutants requires tools (i.e. materials, procedures, methods) that can be adapted to scenarios of increasing complexity. Ultrafast and selective determination of radioactivity levels in scenarios such as the assessment of materials derived from decommissioning of nuclear facilities or from medical uses are of increasing interest, and fast processing of a high number of samples with a screening purpose is required to improve material characterization and waste management. For the specific case of the analysis of alpha and beta emitting radionuclides, plastic scintillators (PS) represent an option that accomplish these specifications and therefore can be used to face the current analytical needs as they are more versatile and less contaminant than options currently used. The research group has wide and recognized experience in the development of PS in form of microspheres and resins and the main objective for the future research is to test and improve these materials for more complex or new situations and to develop new ones for emerging analytical challenges. In detail, research activities will include the development of more resistant, porous and reactive plastic scintillators, which could be afterwards modified by adding bonding extractants, obtaining PSresins with higher resistance and capacity than the currently developed. Moreover, printed plastic scintillators will be developed for a series of pollutants of interest as a new strategy to improve selectivity on radionuclide separations. Preparation of such kind of polymers may lead to the development of fluorescent printed polymers for non-radioactive pollutants. New shapes of PS to be developed include the PSkits, a PS prepared directly in a counting vial with an extractant selective to a certain radionuclide on its surface. New developments will be adjusted with the study of scenarios where the use of the new materials may introduce advantages in terms of time, waste generation, quality of the data or cost. While applications done in past projects were mainly centred on environmental samples, emergency situations and decommissioning samples, we expect to extend the range of applications to the medical field or homeland security.
|
|
|
