1st Edition

Analytical Chemistry of Uranium Environmental, Forensic, Nuclear, and Toxicological Applications

By Zeev Karpas Copyright 2015
    324 Pages 99 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    324 Pages 99 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Accurate uranium analysis, and particularly for isotope measurements, is essential in many fields, including environmental studies, geology, hydrogeology, the nuclear industry, health physics, and homeland security. Nevertheless, only a few scientific books are dedicated to uranium in general and analytical chemistry aspects in particular. Analytical Chemistry of Uranium: Environmental, Forensic, Nuclear, and Toxicological Applications covers the fascinating advances in the field of analytical chemistry of uranium.

    Exploring a broad range of topics, the book focuses on the analytical aspects of industrial processes that involve uranium, its presence in the environment, health and biological implications of exposure to uranium compounds, and nuclear forensics.

    Topics include:

    • Examples of procedures used to characterize uranium in environmental samples of soil, sediments, vegetation, water, and air
    • Analytical methods used to examine the rigorous specifications of uranium and its compounds deployed in the nuclear fuel cycle
    • Health aspects of exposure to uranium and the bioassays used for exposure assessment
    • Up-to-date analytical techniques used in nuclear forensics for safeguards in support of non-proliferation, including single particle characterization

    Each chapter includes an overview of the topic and several examples to demonstrate the analytical procedures. This is followed by sample preparation, separation and purification techniques where necessary. The book supplies readers with a solid understanding of the analytical chemistry approach used today for characterizing the different facets of uranium, providing a good starting point for further investigation into this important element.

    Introduction: Fundamental Properties of Uranium and Its Compounds, the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, and Analytical Methods Used for Characterizing Uranium

    Fundamentals of Uranium and Its Chemistry

    Uranium in the NFC

    Modern Analytical Techniques in a Nutshell

    Industrial Applications

    Industrial Considerations

    Analytical Chemistry of Uranium Ores

    Analytical Chemistry in the NFC

    Depleted Uranium and Its Characterization

    Determination of Uranium in Environmental Samples

    Uranium Content in Soil

    Uranium Content in Plants and Vegetation

    Soil-to-Plant Transfer Factors

    Uranium Content in Natural Freshwater Sources and Oceans

    Uranium Content in Air and Other Environmental Samples

    Exposure, Toxicity, and Biomonitoring of Uranium Exposure

    Exposure Pathways

    Toxicity

    Bioassays for Uranium Exposure

    Dose Assessment and Treatment of Exposed People

    Trace Analysis and Nuclear Forensics

    Nuclear Fingerprints

    Bulk Analysis and Single Particle Analysis

    Trace Analysis and Safeguards

    Nuclear Forensics

    Summary

    Index

    Biography

    Dr. Zeev Karpas received his Ph. D. in 1976 (Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel). In 1978 he joined the Nuclear Research Centre, Negev (Beer-Sheva, Israel) from which he retired as a Senior Research Scientist in 2013. Dr. Karpas has research interests mainly in the toxicological and environmental applications of laser-ablation and ICPMS and in the technology and science of ion mobility spectrometry and is the co-author of three monographs on the subject.