Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry最新文献

{"title":"Neutron induced activation and longterm radioactivity assessment of a PGAA system at the TRIGA mark II reactor by Monte Carlo simulation","authors":"Jamila Yousfi,&nbsp;Lamiae Mrharrab,&nbsp;Hamane Lemziouka,&nbsp;Hamid Amsil,&nbsp;Otman Jai,&nbsp;Abdessamad Didi","doi":"10.1007/s10967-026-10965-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10967-026-10965-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Neutron activation is one of the main phenomena responsible for the production of radionuclides and the evolution of material properties when exposed to an intense neutron flux in nuclear facilities. In this study, the induced radioactivity within the Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) system of the TRIGA Mark II reactor was investigated in order to evaluate the long-term distribution of radioactivity and to identify the PGAA components most susceptible to radiation induced aging. The results showed a progressive accumulation of activity in the different elements of the PGAA system during irradiation, with the total activity of the steel collimator increasing to approximately 1210 MBq after one month of cyclic irradiation. The results presented indicate that the induced radioactivity remains predominantly within the intermediate level activity category (ILW) for the most exposed rings of the collimator (zones 1–3). Rings 4–7 fall within the low level activity category(LLW), while the remaining rings (8–10) are classified as very low level activity (VLLW). A comparison between Monte Carlo simulation estimates and those obtained using a neutron activation calculator demonstrated good agreement, with discrepancies generally below 14%, confirming the reliability of the obtained results.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":661,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry","volume":"335 7","pages":"4837 - 4861"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148628501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis and countermeasures of regional radioactive anomalies caused by geological genesis and human activities","authors":"Huazhu Chen,&nbsp;Linfang Xiu,&nbsp;Xia Wang,&nbsp;Shengzhou Xie,&nbsp;Wenbo Mo,&nbsp;Wei Huang,&nbsp;Qijian Wang,&nbsp;Guanyu Deng,&nbsp;Zijian Jiang","doi":"10.1007/s10967-026-11009-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10967-026-11009-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To systematically explore the influence mechanism of geological background and human activities on the regional radioactive environment, this study selected Chengmai County, Hainan Province as a typical case. Based on 1:50,000 radioactive geological environment survey data, the study area was first divided into 6 lithological sub-regions according to lithological assemblage characteristics. The spatial distribution characteristics of radionuclides ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, and ²³²Th within the sub-region were quantitatively analyzed using the geochemical contrast method. Based on this, the correlation between the radioactivity of the three nuclides and stratigraphic type was analyzed to determine the influence of geological genesis on the regional radioactivity level. A comprehensive evaluation system was constructed from four dimensions: specific activity of natural radionuclides, internal exposure index, external exposure index, and annual effective dose, to systematically assess the radioactive geological environment quality of Chengmai County. The results show that the natural radionuclides ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, and ²³²Th in Chengmai County are generally distributed at low levels, with high-value areas mainly concentrated in the central and northern parts of the study area. Further comprehensive analysis, incorporating multi-source information from geological structure, land use, and human activities, identified three relatively radioactive anomaly zones (numbered I-III) characterized by ⁴⁰K anomalies and localized ²³⁸U and ²³²Th anomalies. The causes of these regional radioactive anomalies were analyzed from both geological and human activity perspectives. Finally, based on the causes of the anomalies, substantive countermeasures and suggestions were proposed from multiple aspects, including radioactive monitoring and management, protection of ecological functional zones, and ecological environment zoning control, aiming to provide a basis for the scientific management and risk prevention of the regional radioactive environment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":661,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry","volume":"335 8","pages":"5155 - 5175"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10967-026-11009-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effective half-life of radiocesium in kiwifruit in the evacuation zone after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident","authors":"Katsumi Shozugawa,&nbsp;Mayumi Hori,&nbsp;Thomas E. Johnson,&nbsp;Georg Steinhauser","doi":"10.1007/s10967-026-11013-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10967-026-11013-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Radiocesium contamination of agricultural products persists in areas affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, particularly within evacuation zones where decontamination has not been conducted. This study examined the temporal variation and effective half-life of radiocesium in kiwifruit (<i>Actinidia deliciosa</i>) collected from the Omaru district of Namie town, Fukushima Prefecture, an area characterized by high initial fallout and complex topography. Kiwifruits were harvested from a single tree over five consecutive years (2021–2025), more than ten years after the accident. A total of 533 kiwifruits were analyzed using high-purity germanium gamma spectrometry. ¹³⁷Cs was detected in all samples while ¹³⁴Cs was not quantifiable due to its short physical half-life and low residual activity levels. Although no decontamination has occurred at the study site, no kiwifruit has exceeded the Japanese regulatory limit of 100 Bq kg⁻¹ since 2023. Statistical analyses confirmed the annual distributions of ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations were approximately normal. The ecological half-life of ¹³⁷Cs in kiwifruit was estimated as 10.7 years using weighted regression of annual mean values. Combining this with the physical half-life of ¹³⁷Cs (30.2 years), the effective half-life in kiwifruit was calculated to be 7.9 years. This value is markedly longer than those reported for orchard fruits outside evacuation zones, indicating sustained root uptake and secondary deposition under minimally disturbed conditions. These findings provide important insights into long-term radiocesium dynamics relevant to agricultural recovery and evacuation policy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":661,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry","volume":"335 8","pages":"5079 - 5086"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10967-026-11013-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preparation of 10B-enriched boric acid by inorganic hydrolysis: effects of defluorinating agents","authors":"Zhou Beilin,&nbsp;Liu Nian,&nbsp;Liu ZhongHao,&nbsp;Wu Chao","doi":"10.1007/s10967-026-11000-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10967-026-11000-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates an economic route for producing ¹⁰B-enriched boric acid. We used industrial-grade BF₃·C₄H₁₀O as the starting material. The reaction system employed aqueous suspensions of calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, and lanthanum oxide as defluorinating agents. We monitored the electrical conductivity of the reaction solution over time. The experiments tested various temperatures, reactant ratios, water volumes, and feeding rates. Data analysis revealed their effects on reaction rates. We also propose a preliminary mechanism for this hydrolysis process.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":661,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry","volume":"335 8","pages":"5119 - 5133"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Terbium-161 radionuclide therapy of cetuximab-based PNA-mediated pretargeting","authors":"Tao Wang,&nbsp;Jiayan Yu,&nbsp;Zhiyou He,&nbsp;Jiajia Li,&nbsp;Xia Yang,&nbsp;Jing Wang,&nbsp;Cong Xiao,&nbsp;Na Yang,&nbsp;Hongbo Li,&nbsp;Liangang Zhuo,&nbsp;Wei Liao,&nbsp;Wenqi Fan,&nbsp;Feiyuan Hu,&nbsp;Peng Zhao,&nbsp;Yuchuan Yang,&nbsp;Yue Chen","doi":"10.1007/s10967-026-10984-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10967-026-10984-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Terbium-161 (¹⁶¹Tb) is regarded as a highly promising radionuclide for therapeutic applications due to its emission of not only β⁻ particles but also conversion electrons and Auger electrons. This unique decay characteristic makes it particularly effective for eliminating micrometastases. To fully exploit the therapeutic potential of ¹⁶¹Tb while addressing issues such as severe off-target toxicity and low tumor-to-non-tumor uptake ratios caused by the large molecular weight and slow clearance of antibodies in traditional radioimmunotherapy (RIT), this study innovatively employs the pretargeting radioimmunotherapy (PRIT) strategy combined with ¹⁶¹Tb. By decoupling the targeting and radionuclide delivery processes, this approach effectively reduces the radiation background in the blood and normal organs. In this study, cetuximab was selected as the primary antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and peptide nucleic acid (PNA)—a DNA analog with excellent in vivo stability and high hybridization affinity—was employed for the first time as a ¹⁶¹Tb labelled pretargeting agent. We successfully designed and synthesized a ¹⁶¹Tb-labeled PNA-mediated pretargeting radiopharmaceutical, and subsequently conducted a comprehensive evaluation of its in vivo biodistribution, SPECT/CT imaging, and antitumor effects in the HCC827 xenograft mouse model. The experimental results showed that group A (Cetuximab-PNA-1 + [¹⁶¹Tb]Tb-PNA-2) exhibited significantly reduced radioactive accumulation in the blood and a significantly increased tumor-to-background ratio compared with group B ([¹⁶¹Tb]Tb-DOTA-Cetuximab). After 4 weeks of treatment, compared to the control group, a significant tumor growth inhibition was observed in group A (Cetuximab-PNA-1 + [¹⁶¹Tb]Tb-PNA-2).</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><p>Construction of PNA mediated pretargeting strategy platform and in vivo mechanism.</p>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":661,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry","volume":"335 7","pages":"4811 - 4825"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148628474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ra-226 extraction and purification from simulated uranium tailings","authors":"Maelle Coupannec,&nbsp;Kelly N. Kmak,&nbsp;John D. Despotopulos","doi":"10.1007/s10967-026-11005-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10967-026-11005-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Growing demand for Ac-225 has outstripped current production, increasing interest in alternative production routes. These often rely on irradiations of Ra-226, yet Ra-226 supplies are also limited. Uranium tailings provide an abundant source of Ra-226, though separation from these complex matrices remains challenging. A laboratory-scale process was developed to recover Ra-226 from simulated U-tailings. After acid leaching, Ra remained adsorbed on refractory oxides and silicates. An additional CaCl₂ leach of the residue raised recovery to ~ 64%. Subsequent purifications, including precipitation, ion-exchange, and extraction chromatography (TK101), achieved chemical yields up to 73 ± 7%, producing 7.68 ± 0.1 µCi of high-purity Ra-226.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":661,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry","volume":"335 8","pages":"5105 - 5118"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148816293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable mix design for liquid radioactive waste with an extremely high boron concentration using alkali-activated Portland-limestone cement","authors":"Attila Baranyi,&nbsp;László J. Csetényi,&nbsp;Katalin Kopecskó","doi":"10.1007/s10967-026-10981-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10967-026-10981-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The radioactive waste cementation plant at Paks Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary solidifies liquid radioactive waste using Portland cement blends. Under the European Green Deal, Portland-limestone cements are expected to become increasingly important due to their lower carbon footprint. However, these cements are generally unsuitable for solidification of radioactive waste with high borate concentration. This work investigates the applicability of alkali-activation for the solidification of evaporator residues with extremely high borate concentrations using Portland-limestone cement. Surface cracking was reduced using polypropylene microfibres and zeolite, resulting in stable and readily available mix designs fulfilling all technological and waste acceptance criteria.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":661,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry","volume":"335 7","pages":"4881 - 4896"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10967-026-10981-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148628470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficient recovery of some valuable elements from syenogranite, Ras Abda, North Eastern Desert, Egypt","authors":"Reda M. Attia,&nbsp;Elham G. Awny,&nbsp;Hala A. Mohamed,&nbsp;Ahmed E. Abdel Gawad","doi":"10.1007/s10967-026-10994-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10967-026-10994-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the sulfation roasting–water leaching behavior and recovery of valuable elements from Syenogranite sourced from Ras Abda, in Egypt's North Eastern Desert. The ore contains 375 mg/kg of U, 7.9 g/kg of Th, 7 g/kg of total rare earth elements (TREEs), and 4.1 g/kg Zr. Sulfation roasting with H₂SO₄ was carried out at an acid-to-ore ratio of 500 kg/t, a roasting temperature of 443 K and a roasting time of 120 min, followed by water leaching for 90 min at room temperature using a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1/5. Under these optimum conditions, the leaching efficiencies reached 84% for U, 93.5% for Th, 99% for LREE_S, 95% for HREE_S, and 93% for Zr. The leaching kinetics followed the shrinking core model, with diffusion through the product layer governing the leaching processes. The calculated activation energies were 9.5, 8.2, 2.66, 5.44, and 9.991 kJ mol⁻¹ for U, Th, LREE_S, HREE_S and Zr, respectively, confirming the effectiveness of sulfation roasting in enhancing the leachability of the investigated elements. Thorium and REEs were recovered through oxalic acid precipitation, after which thorium was selectively separated from the oxalate cake via alkaline leaching. The sulfate leach liquor, free from Th⁴⁺ and REE³⁺ ions, was pH adjusted to 1.8 and subjected to solvent extraction with 20% TBP to remove interfering ions such as U⁴⁺ and Fe²⁺ prior to zirconium recovery. Zirconium was finally precipitated directly from the raffinate at pH 3.5 using NaOH.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":661,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry","volume":"335 7","pages":"4897 - 4912"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148628469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"k0-standardized INAA with a low-flux 241Am–Be neutron source for copper determination in chalcopyrite ores","authors":"Kourosh Sadeghi,&nbsp;Mojtaba Tajik","doi":"10.1007/s10967-026-10971-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10967-026-10971-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This research develops and rigorously validates a precise quantitative framework based on <i>k</i>₀-Standardized Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (<i>k</i>₀-INAA). We use a 4.3 Ci ²⁴¹Am-Be isotopic neutron source for the direct, non-destructive determination of copper in a complex sulfide ore matrix. A novel internal monitor of gold nanoparticles (28 nm, &gt; 99.97% purity) was co-irradiated. Comprehensive characterization of the neutron spectrum yielded an epithermal shape factor <i>α</i> = 0.0196 ± 0.0005, a thermal flux <i>Φ</i>_th = (2473.5 ± 49.5) n cm⁻² s⁻¹, an epithermal flux <i>Φ</i>_epi = (27.09 ± 0.81) n cm⁻² s⁻¹, and a flux ratio <i>f</i> = 91.32 ± 3.65. Our analysis included rigorous corrections for neutron self-shielding and gamma-ray attenuation. Using a heavily shielded NaI(Tl) detector, we achieved a stable background of only 8 counts per second and recorded well-resolved photopeaks of ⁶⁴Cu (511 keV) and ¹⁹⁸Au (411.8 keV). The final copper concentration was determined to be <i>C</i>_Cu = (25.86 ± 3.72) wt%. Independent validation by ICP-OES yielded <i>C</i>_Cu = 24.31 wt%, demonstrating exceptional concordance with a relative difference of about 6.4%, which is statistically acceptable given the expanded uncertainties. This composition definitively identifies the ore as high-grade chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂). Our findings establish <i>k</i>₀-INAA with an ²⁴¹Am-Be source as a powerful, accessible, and non-destructive analytical asset for quantitative geochemistry and mineral exploration.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":661,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry","volume":"335 7","pages":"4781 - 4790"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148628471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigation of light yield and energy resolution of Eu3+-doped GdBO3 nanoscintillator prepared via an acetylacetone-assisted aqueous sol–gel route","authors":"Billel Zahra,&nbsp;Lakhdar Guerbous,&nbsp;Mourad Seraiche,&nbsp;Hamza Mekki,&nbsp;Ahmed Cherif Chergui","doi":"10.1007/s10967-026-10996-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10967-026-10996-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the scintillation performance of Eu³⁺-doped GdBO₃ nanophosphors synthesized via an acetylacetone-assisted aqueous sol–gel route for potential radiation detection applications. While previous studies primarily focused on structural and photoluminescence properties, the present work evaluates their detection response under X-ray and γ-ray excitation using prototype powder-based scintillation samples. The effects of Eu³⁺ concentration (0.5–20.0 at%) at fixed pH = 2.0, as well as precursor pH (2.0–10.0) at a constant Eu³⁺ content of 10.0 at%, on radioluminescence intensity, light yield, and energy resolution were systematically examined. The emission spectra exhibit the characteristic ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_j transitions of Eu³⁺, indicating effective luminescence from the activator ions. Under 662 keV γ-ray excitation from a ¹³⁷Cs source, the optimum scintillation performance was achieved for the sample containing 10.0 at% Eu³⁺ synthesized at pH = 10.0. This enhanced response is attributed to more efficient energy transfer processes together with reduced concentration quenching. The optimized composition exhibited a light yield of approximately 24,000 ± 4,800 ph/MeV and an energy resolution of 7.9% (FWHM). These findings highlight the strong potential of GdBO₃:Eu³⁺ nanophosphors as cost-effective scintillation materials for radiation detection and imaging applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":661,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry","volume":"335 7","pages":"4933 - 4945"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148628412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}