Radioanalysis

Development and Research Work in the Field of Radioanalysis: radioanalytical work comprises chemical and physical-chemical investigations in connection with nuclear radiation measurements on a wide variety of samples containing radionuclides. The following work was undertaken in 2009:

  • A fast method for detecting strontium isotopes 89Sr and 90Sr in fresh milk was developed. It is based on an organic compound which forms a complex (chelate) together with the strontium.
  • Development work was completed on the simultaneous detection of plutonium isotopes 241Pu, 240Pu, 239Pu and 238Pu in sludge samples using the Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) method together with alpha and mass spectrometry (MS).
  • A process was developed to detect hydrogen isotope 3H (tritium) and carbon isotope 14C (radiocarbon) in sludge samples and dismantled reactor components by means of a closed gas extraction system.
  • Comparative measurements at international level demonstrated very good correspondence between the PSI results and the reference values.

 

A laboratory assistant at work.