Radiochemical Analysis

The RCA expert group

The Radiochemical Analysis expert group (RCA) at SCK•CEN is a multidisciplinary laboratory dedicated to being a centre of excellence in radiochemistry and in the destructive chemical and radiochemical analysis of samples and materials originating from the nuclear fuel cycle and from nuclear research.

Over the years, our staff of 18 research scientists and analytical chemists have acquired valuable knowledge and gained much experience in the development and application of analysis services and technologies in the areas of:

• Radioactive waste management and disposal
• Nuclear fuel characterization, nuclear fuel performance and safety assessment and the development of innovative nuclear fuels
• Wet-reprocessing
• Reactor dosimetry
• Environmental analysis
• Radio-chemical analysis and quality assurance

The expert group consists of two units, Radiochemistry (RCH) and Instrumental Analysis (IAN).

• The Radiochemistry unit offers comprehensive expertise in wet-reprocessing, radiochemical sample preparation, radioanalysis and physico-chemical measurements.
• The Instrumental Analysis unit provides spectrometric and instrumental analysis methods for the determination of the composition of a sample in a qualitative, quantitative and/or isotopic manner.

Method development and validation are important tasks within both units. Several analytical procedures that are applied are accredited according to the international ISO 17025 standard.

The Radiochemical Analysis expert group (RCA) delivers services to external clients. More information can be found in the section 'Our Services - Radiochemical Analysis'.

Radionuclides

There is a worldwide increasing interest for medical applications of radionuclides in (cancer) therapy. Nowadays, the production centres are not situated exclusively in the Western world. More and more developing countries start producing radionuclides for medical purposes.

We have the knowledge and the experience to create and guarantee additional excess values for our nuclear installations (BR1 & BR2 reactor). We focus on the research on the production and the quality control (radionuclide, radiochemical and chemical purity) of radioactive substances for cancer therapy.

In most cases, the radionuclide "as such" is not useful, neither for diagnostic nor for therapeutic applications. For that reason, the radionuclide must be attached to a carrier, a vehicle that once administered to the blood pool, is immediately captured by the tissue of interest (tumour). In vitro studies with radio-labelled molecules are planned to evaluate the chemical behaviour of the radiopharmaceutical. The results of these studies can play an important role in the promotion of some radionuclides and labelled molecules.

Nuclear medicine

Nuclear medicine is a volatile world and topics are changing rapidly. The market depends on different parameters (production costs, repayment, efficiency therapy, other competing techniques) on which we have no impact. To increase the success of the "new" radionuclide in nuclear medicine, it is our aim to contribute to the development of these medicines by sharing our expertise and infrastructure with our partners via research and service contracts.

Publications

Govers K., Gysemans M., Verwerft M.- New Spent Fuel Characterization Proposal: REGAL – Rod Extremity and Gadolinia AnaLysis.- Mol, Belgium: SCK•CEN, 2009.- 23 p.- (External Report of the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre; ER-110).- ISSN 1782-2335
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Wagemans J., Adriaensen L., Longhino J., Blaumann H.- A retrospective dosimetry feasibility study for Atucha I.- In: Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Reactor Dosimetry - Reactor Dosimetry State of the Art 2008, Akersloot, Netherlands, 25-30 May 2008, Singapore, Singapore, World Scientific, 2009, p. 50-57
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De Vriese P. - Ontwikkeling van analytische procedures voor de karakterisatie van bestraald Pb-Bi, gebruikt als koelmiddel in GEN IV reactoren - to be implemented.
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Wijnen M. - Voorbereidende studie van de koud plasma modus van een ICP-QMS voor de bepaling van Fe-55, Ni-59 en Ni-63 - to be implemented.
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De Prins M. - Studie van interferenties bij de analyse van kritische radionucliden in radioactief afval met SF-ICP-MS - to be implemented.
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