Dynamic Flow Approaches for Automated Radiochemical Analysis in Environmental, Nuclear and Medical Applications

Abstract

Automated sample processing techniques are desirable in radiochemical analysis for environmental radioactivity monitoring, nuclear emergency preparedness, nuclear waste characterization and management during operation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities, as well as medical isotope production, to achieve fast and cost-effective analysis. Dynamic flow based approaches including flow injection (FI), sequential injection (SI), multi-commuted flow injection (MCFI), multi-syringe flow injection (MSFI), multi-pumping flow system (MPFS), lab-on-valve (LOV) and lab-in-syringe (LIS) techniques have been developed and applied to meet the analytical criteria under different situations. Herein an overall review and discussion on these techniques and methodologies developed for radiochemical separation and measurement of various radionuclides is presented. Different designs of flow systems with combinations of radiochemical separation techniques, such as liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), liquid–liquid microextraction (LLME), solid phase extraction chromatography (SPEC), ion exchange chromatography (IEC), electrochemically modulated separations (EMS), capillary electrophoresis (CE), molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) separation and online sensing and detection systems, are summarized and reviewed systematically.

Flow-Injection Methods in Water Analysis—Recent Developments

“…To some extent, these articles indicate the selection of the determined analytes, describe the detection methods employed, and show the configurations of the flow-injection systems developed. Among the analytes that have been determined, one can find trace amounts of numerous organic compounds [57,58], the residues of pharmaceuticals [59], and also many groups of inorganic analytes [60][61][62], including nutrients in oceanographic measurements [63], as well as the environmentally significant radionuclides [64][65][66]. Flowinjection analysis methods are also employed in the determination of the total indices of water quality [57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67].…”

“…Among the analytes that have been determined, one can find trace amounts of numerous organic compounds [57,58], the residues of pharmaceuticals [59], and also many groups of inorganic analytes [60][61][62], including nutrients in oceanographic measurements [63], as well as the environmentally significant radionuclides [64][65][66]. Flowinjection analysis methods are also employed in the determination of the total indices of water quality [57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67]. Due to their usually rapid determinations, they are effective in the on-line monitoring of drinking water quality and can be employed as early warning analytical systems [68].…”

“…Automation of radiochemical analysis by applying flow techniques to environmental samples Fajardo, 2010 [64] Flow analysis techniques as effective tools for the improved environmental analysis of organic compounds, expressed as total indices Maya, 2010 [67] Advances in on-line drinking water-quality monitoring and early warning systems Storey, 2010 [68] Flow-based methods with chemiluminescence detection for food and environmental analysis Christodouleas, 2011 [60] Determination of total organic fluorine (TOF) in environmental samples, using flow-injection and chromatographic methods Musijowski, 2011 [57] Advances in microfluidics for environmental analysis Jokerst, 2012 [69] Flow-injection analysis as a tool for the determination of pharmaceutical residues in an aqueous environment Trojanowicz, 2012 [59] Flow injection analysis as a tool for enhancing oceanographic nutrient measurements Worsfold, 2013 [63] Application of microfluidics in waterborne pathogen monitoring Bridle, 2014 [70] Application of flow analysis in the determination of selected radionuclides Kołaci ńska, 2014 [65] Analytical challenges and advantages of using flow-based methodologies for ammonia determination in estuarine and marine waters Sraj, 2014 [61] Developments of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) for water analysis Almeida, 2018 [71] Preconcentration of organic substances on low-polar adsorbents in the flow systems of analysis Tsizin, 2018 [58] Dynamic flow, considered for automated radiochemical analysis in environmental, nuclear and medical applications Qiao, 2020 [66] Development of testing methods for water quality using flow analysis Teshima, 2020 [62] 3.1. Flow-Injection Systems with Spectroscopic Detection In all the above-mentioned detection techniques employed in flow-injection analysis, the spectroscopic methods, both molecular and atomic spectroscopy, are the most widely used.…”

Determination of 241Am in Environmental Samples: A Review

“…Most automated systems are based on dynamic flow approaches. The latest review [ 106 ] summarized systematically different flow approaches for automated radiochemical analyses in environmental, nuclear, and medical applications. Dynamic-flow-based approaches, including flow injection (FI), sequential injection (SI), multi-commuted flow injection (MCFI), multi-syringe flow injection (MSFI), multi-pumping flow system (MPFS), and pressurized injection (PI) techniques, have been developed and applied to meet analytical criteria under different situations.…”

Modern Flow Analysis

“…Dynamic flow procedures are also the main subject of the review paper written by Qiao [ 5 ]. In this case, the author focused on the implementation of various flow techniques for the determination of radionuclides.…”