CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2016: Lecture 18 Nuclear Forensics

This lecture covers the utilization of radionuclides and introduces signatures resulting from these activities. Signatures from reactors are  introduced. Specific details are provided on forensic signatures related to Pu and actinide isotopics. This lecture is not assigned but can be viewed for additional information.

CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry Winter 2016 Exam 3

Assigned: 3-Mar-16                                                               

1st Due Date: 8-Mar-16

2nd Due Date:  11-Mar-16                                                                         

Lecture 11:  Speciation

Lecture 12:  Uranium chemistry

Lecture 13:  Neptunium chemistry

Lecture 14:  Plutonium chemistry

Lecture 15:  Americium and Curium chemistry
Lecture 16:  Chemistry in reactor fuel

Lecture 17:  Separations

Use lecture notes, textbooks, Chart of the Nuclides, Table of the Isotopes, and web pages.  Use the chart of the nuclides as your primary dataset for isotope half-life.   Show your work or references on a separate page and save electronically.  Submission of the work is not required for the 1st due date.  Please use 3 significant digits for your answers.  For scientific notation please use X.XXEX (i.e, 1230 as 1.23E3).

The first iteration of the exam is due 8-Mar-16.  The answers will be posted on 9-Mar-16.  Any incorrect answers can be resubmitted by 11-Mar-16. Changed answers will be worth 50 % of the original grade.  For the 2nd resubmission the work related to the changes must be shown.  Please post all questions to the blog.

CHEM 418 Nuclear Chemistry, Winter 2016: Lecture 17 Separations

A number of different separation methods for radionuclides, with an emphasis on actinides, are presented. Solvent extraction, ion exchange, electrochemical, volatility and ionic liquid methods are discussed. The fundamental concepts are provided with specific examples on the nuclear fuel cycle. Ideas and concepts for advanced separations are given. Details are provided for the different separation routes discussed. The PUREX process is described. Examples are given for TRUEX and TALSPEAK separations. Specific examples for actinide separations are provided. Part 4 is a summation lecture on transuranic separations that are drawn from the Np, Pu, Am, and Cm lectures. Part 4 is meant as a review and provides a compilation of separation methods, the bulk can be skipped, but examples of questions are provided at the end of the lecture.