Fukushima event reconstruction using modelling and isotope relationships

Using particulate and noble gas raw data analysed from Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty (CTBT) monitoring sites, Canadian National Surveillance networks and atmospheric transport modelling, it is possible to associate some of the main events in the Fukushima accident timeline with observations, and perturbations in isotopic ratios in Japan, through the Pacific and into North America. Additional sources identified during the accident period will be commented upon in the context of CTBT treaty verification.     

Emulsification for Latex Production Using Static Mixers

Summary: Evolution of droplets generated by static mixers have been investigated in terms of surfactant concentration, flow rate through the pump, monomer hydrophobicity and the type of static mixer. Operating at faster pump flow rates and using the PAC static mixers generated smaller miniemulsion droplets. Similar effects were observed at higher surfactant concentrations (3.0 vs. 1.0 g/L) and using monomers of increasing hydrophilicity (MMA vs. St). When comparing the efficiency of PAC static mixers to SMX mixing elements it was found that SMX was capable of generating droplets approximately 100 nm smaller at similar pump flow rates in the same time period. Based on these promising results, the SMX mixers were further evaluated based on surfactant concentration. The miniemulsion droplets were polymerized and their distribution was evaluated.     

Trace analysis of uranium ore concentrates using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for nuclear forensics

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - We present a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) method for trace-element analysis of uranium ore concentrates...