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

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.

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.