Electrochemical detector based on a modified graphite electrode with phthalocyanine for the elemental analysis of actinides.

The quantification of actinides in aqueous solutions involves complex and expensive separation processes. Electrochemical methods have been widely used for the quick and accurate identification and quantification of organic and inorganic compounds directly or indirectly. Therefore, this work proposes the use of modified graphite with phthalocyanine for electrochemical detection and quantification of Th, U, Pu, Am, and Cm, in aqueous media by cyclic voltammetry.

Thin source spraying method for gross alpha/beta measurements with emphasis on alpha/beta particle self-absorption.

Gross alpha/beta analysis is an initial rapid screening technique used to discriminate alpha- and beta-particle emitters in the nuclear industry. Self-absorption in the sample affects the detection; therefore, self-absorption curves must be constructed. Beta and alpha self-absorption curves were constructed under different conditions.

Decontamination of radioactive metal surfaces by electrocoagulation.

The decontamination of noncompactable radioactive wastes, such as tools and equipment, aims to reduce the waste volume to be conditioned and stored. The electrocoagulation (EC) application in the decontamination of noncompactable radioactive waste from stainless steel containing uranium, was studied to evaluate its technical viability. The first studies were carried out with stainless steel plates coated with WO to simulate a fixed contamination and to determine the best tungsten removal conditions via EC considering pH, electrolyte support, distance between the electrodes, cell potential and counter-electrode material.

Electrokinetic removal of radionuclides contained in scintillation liquids absorbed in soil type Phaeozem.

Control samples of scintillation liquids - Phaeozem soil mixtures were prepared with different scintillation liquids as the support electrolyte, Install Gel XF, (Ultima Gold AB™ and Ultima Gold XR™), to construct the polarization curves, and to select the cell potential with the highest mass transfer to remove Na (15 h) and Tc (6 h) as radiotracers from polluted Phaeozem soil. During the electrokinetic treatment (EKT), the removal of radionuclides contained in scintillation liquids absorbed in Phaeozem soil, liquid phase was characterized by Gas Chromatography coupled with a Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), solids by FTIR, before and after the application of cell potential. In this sense, the support electrolyte was selected based on the highest current generated (1 mA), as in the case of scintillation liquid 50% Ultima Gold XR™ + 50% Water (1:1), which was used for 6 h in the presence of a mesh and a titanium rod, as anode and cathode, respectively.

Production optimization of 99Mo/99mTc zirconium molybate gel generators at semi-automatic device: DISIGEG.

DISIGEG is a synthesis installation of zirconium (99)Mo-molybdate gels for (99)Mo/(99m)Tc generator production, which has been designed, built and installed at the ININ. The device consists of a synthesis reactor and five systems controlled via keyboard: (1) raw material access, (2) chemical air stirring, (3) gel dried by air and infrared heating, (4) moisture removal and (5) gel extraction. DISIGEG operation is described and dried condition effects of zirconium (99)Mo- molybdate gels on (99)Mo/(99m)Tc generator performance were evaluated as well as some physical-chemical properties of these gels.