Industrial Applications and Chemisty Section
Active Coordinated Research Projects (CRP)
In
Radioisotope and Radiation Technology
F2.10.09 Industrial process gamma tomography
(2003-2006)
The objective of the CRP is to test and validate computer tomography techniques for diagnosing industrial multiphase processes. Gamma tomography is complementary to radiotracer and gamma sealed source techniques largely used for analyzing industrial process units The feasibility of gamma and X-rays transmission and emission tomography, as well as of related electrical CT in industry will be investigated in order to further facilitate the transfer of CT technology to IAEA MS developing countries. The CRP will assist developing Member States in introducing advanced radioisotope technology for optimizing their industrial process design and operation. An educational package will be prepared for educating radioisotope practitioner and specialists in CT experimental design, data processing, algorithm formulation, software imaging and interpretation.
Relevant target areas for gamma computer tomography applications are defined. Although the methodology is generic and applicable across a broad industrial spectrum, distillation columns, packed beds with two phase flows, risers, fluidized beds, and other multiphase processing units are identified as the most appropriate target beneficiaries of these applications. These industrial process units present significant technical challenges to CT investigations in terms of the complexity of the multiphase flows that occur in them.
F2.10.10, Validation of tracers and software for inter-well investigations
(2004 - 2008)
The objective of the CRP is to consolidate, refine, further develop and validate tracers in laboratory and field, as well as data processing and interpretation for inter - well investigations, ultimately leading to upgrading the capability of tracer groups in developing countries, and to fostering the emerging new applications in enhancing oil recovery and geothermal reservoir efficiency.
Oil and gas industry is the major user of tracer technology. Tracers are used to tag injection fluids during secondary and tertiary recoveries. Most of the information given by the tracers cannot be obtained by other techniques. Presently, there is a development of tracer technology in inter - well investigations, which consist s in new radiotracers for reservoir fluids, improved and new analytical techniques for tracer measurement , modeling and interpretation.
The project will contribute to the development of new tracers and processing methods for multi - tracer inter - well communication investigations. The work to be carried out under the CRP is expected to result in prepar ations of protocols, software, manuals, reports and scientific papers both on methodological and technological aspects of tracer experimental design, data processing and interpretation.
F2.20.36 Development of radioactive sources for emerging therapeutic and industrial applications
( 2002 – 2005)
The objective of the CRP is to generate know how and expertise in participating laboratories for making miniature radioactive sources and their quality assessment with a view to make such sources locally available for potential use in medicine and industry.
Radionuclides commonly used for industrial sealed sources are 60 Co, 192 Ir, 241 Am, 137 Cs, 90 Sr, 63 Ni, 147 Pm, 169 Yb, 170 Tm and 204 Tl. The demand and scale of industrial applications of sealed sources seems to be nearly stable.
During the last decade the most important developments in sealed sources are related to medical applications. In contrast to the earlier situation of using a limited number of radionuclides, the present scenerio offers a wider range of radionuclides including 125 I, 103 Pd, 90 Y, 90 Sr, 144 Ce, 166 Ho and 106 Ru. The most prominent recent developments in sealed sources include, 192 Ir sources for high-dose rate brachytherapy 125 I and 103 Pd seeds for treatment of prostate and brain cancers, catheter mounted sources, stents and balloons incorporating 90 Sr, 90 Y, 144 Ce, 166 Ho, 32 P and 133 Xe for vasculartherapy, 125 I and 106 Ru sources for improved ophthalmic applicators and 60 Co sources used in “gamma-knives”.
F2.20.37 Comparative laboratory evaluation of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals
( 2002 – 2005)
The CRP aims to develop and intercompare methodologies to evaluate the relative merit of therapeutic radiophamaceuticals. These studies will be performed using a model system and molecular carrier labeled with I-131, I-125 as well as other therapeutic radionuclides (for example, Y-90, Re-186, Re-188, Sm-153, Ho-166, Dy-165).
It is expected that this CRP will result in methodologies and evaluative capabilities in participants laboratories needed to make prudent selections among therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Another outcome of the CRP will be availability of few therapeutic agents based on monoclonal antibodies with sufficient data to support regulatory clearance.
Development of radiopharmaceuticals for therapeutic applications based on different substrates and a variety of beta emitting isotopes is being pursued by research groups in a number of Member States. The assessment of relative effectiveness of different radiopharmaceuticals for cancer therapy is often a difficult task because of the multitude of variables that must be considered, some relating to the radioisotope, and others to the biological carrier. Comparing various agents in patients is certainly useful; however, this may not be ideal for several reasons. For this reason, the development of laboratory methods which can be used for reliable and efficient comparative evaluation of promising therapeutic radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals is important, because it should permit more rapid identification of the optimal therapeutic for a given clinical application.
F2.20.38 Development of Tc-99m based small biomolecules using novel Tc-99m cores
(2003 – 2006)
Functional imaging involving in vivo biochemistry is unique to nuclear medicine whose clinical usefulness has been established using PET radiopharmaceuticals labeled with C11, N13 O15 and F18. For wider and economical applications of functional imaging it is highly desirable to develop Tc99m labeled analogues of the PET agents. Developing Tc99m labeled substitutes for PET agents has been constrained because much of the Tc99m radiopharmaceutical development till recently has focused primarily upon the [Tc(O)] 3+ core. Tc99m radiopharmaceuticals for functional imaging needs Tc99m labeling of small biomolecules such as amino acids, steroids, sugars etc without altering their biological activity. This has not been very successful using the [Tc(O)] 3+ core. The advent of the new, low-valent, [Tc(CO) 3 ] + metal core and of the [Tc(N)PXP] 2+ (X = N, S, or O) metal fragment have introduced new avenues for Tc99m radiolabeling of such molecules. The versatility and inherent in vitro / in vivo stability of these moieties offer alternate promising approaches for development of Tc99m radiopharmaceuticals based on small biomolecules with potential for functional imaging. The overall objective of the CRP is to generate know how and expertise in participating laboratories for applying these recent advances in Tc99m chemistry to develop promising Tc99m labeled small biomolecules of high purity and stability for further investigations as potential radiopharmaceuticals
F2.20.39 Controlling of degradation effects in radiation processing of polymers
( 2003-2006)
The objective of the CRP is to develop in participating laboratories reliable analytical methodologies concerning investigation of degradation effects of radiation on polymers. Moreover, participants will develop procedures and chemical formulations enhancing or preventing degradation effects depending on the desired application of the process.
Ionizing radiation (gamma and X-rays, fast electrons or ion beams) are known to be efficient in modifying the surface and bulk properties of polymers. Depending on the nature of polymer and conditions they undergo different transformations, among them cross-linking, vulcanization or degradation. The last phenomenon may be beneficial (product development) or undesirable (sterilization of polymeric products); therefore, factors, which affect degradation and mechanisms, which govern this process, should be investigated further.
The CRP is being launched with the objective of developing analytical techniques for better understanding of degradation effects in polymers and technologies (chemical formulas and processing conditions) to control these phenomena. It is anticipated that through collaborative and cooperative research efforts of the participants, new testing methods and materials with new or enhanced properties will be manufactured and process ability of the polymers will be improved. It will eventually provide better utilization of radiation processing as a clean, energy and cost efficient alternative to conventional technologies.
F2.20.40, Development of generator technologies for therapeutic radionuclides
(2004 - 2008)
The objective of the CRP is to generate know how and expertise in participating laboratories for the development of radionuclide generators for isotopes such as 90 Y, 188 Re for targeted therapy and standardize quality control techniques for generator eluted therapeutic radionuclides such as 90 Y and 188 Re. The CRP aims the development of technology for the production of therapeutically useful quantities of Y-90 and Re-188. The major limitation of developing generator technologies for therapeutic radionuclides is availability of high specific activity and high purity parent radionuclides.
There are going to be over 150 million new cancer cases in developing countries over the next twenty years and targeted radiotherapy using radiopharmaceuticals are expected to play a major role in the management of cancer. Considering the enormous need of radioisotopes for targeted therapy, it is essential to develop new radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals for cancer management. 188 Re and 90 Y have attracted considerable interest as radionuclides for targeted therapy, as they could be readily available from radionuclide generators having very long lived parents.
At the end of the CRP it is envisaged that the participants would have the requisite know-how and expertise to prepare radionuclide generators that are capable of giving adequate quantities of radionuclides for use in nuclear medicine
F2.30.20 Corrosion and deposit determination in large diameter pipes, with and without insulation by radiography testing
( 2002 - 2005)
The CRP aims to develop an on-line technique, presently not available, for monitoring of remaining wall thickness of large diameter pipes which is very vital for many industrial installations. Large pipes with a diameter greater than 150mm with or without insulation are abundantly used in almost all the industrial sectors and corrosion in these is a major industrial problem to which a solution must be found both for financial and safety reasons. Timely and non-destructive detection of corrosion is an important step in that direction. Monitoring of corrosion/deposit on large diameter pipeline (> 150 mm O.D) is more difficult as the variations in the thickness due to corrosion/deposit on these result in a smaller percentage change of the total wall thickness compared to lower diameter pipelines. Also, the thickness variations in these pipes at various locations are different. It is hence essential to extend the scope of already carried out work on less than 150 mm diameter pipes to include the larger diameter pipes. This will include parametric evaluation studies for detection of minimum thickness changes in these pipelines w.r.t different radiation sources, X-ray films, exposure conditions and film processing. The results of CPR will also supplement the proposed ISO draft standard on previous CRP.
F2.30.21 New applications of prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA)
( 2002 – 2006)
New developments in instrumentation, software and nuclear data suggest that prompt gamma applications could be extended beyond the current use of prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA). The CRP aims to promote the dissemination of these developments and explore new fields of profitable use in medical diagnostics and treatment, mineral exploration, process control, environmental monitoring and in food and agricultural survey. This non-invasive, non-destructive analytical technique can be used for in vivo , in situ , and “on-line” analysis providing results almost instantaneously. The charm of this versatile analytical tool lies in its flexibility for direct application to any kind of sample and — albeit neutrons are involved — no measurable radioactivity is being produced.
F2.30.22 Remediation of polluted waters and wastewater by radiation processing
( 2002-2006)
The objective of the CRP is to establish optimal treatment methodologies to disinfect and decontaminate actual samples of drinking water and wastewater by using ionizing radiation and other agents.
In drinking water treatment, the most commonly used disinfection process is the application of chlorine. Chlorine has been shown to be ineffective in controlling some emerging biological problems such as: protozoa, crptspronidium parvuum and giardia lamblia. Furthermore the use of chlorine results in the formation of disinfection by-products that adversely affect the water quality. The CRP will address to this issue and also investigate radiation treatment as an alternative process for water treatment. Other issues that will be addressed include the evaluation and selection of appropriate dosimetry system for flow through aqueous systems and an intercomparison of the delivery systems by various research groups.
F2.30.23, Applications of nuclear analytical techniques to investigate the authenticity of art objects
(2004-2008)
The objective of the CRP is to explore new fields of application for nuclear analytical techniques in art and archaeology. It will help to foster collaboration between museum conservators and analytical researchers. The dissemination of information on applications of advanced analytical techniques to art objects will stimulate the use of these techniques in developing Member States and help in conservation and recovery of national heritage.
Historical artefacts and art objects are traded world wide and represent a potential source for forgery and false labelling. The market is huge and a large part of the trade is going from developing countries to the developed world where strict regulations can only be applied if convenient methods for checking the authenticity would be available. Portable XRF instruments for rapid screening analysis and PGNAA portable systems based on neutron sources for field work, as well as laboratory based techniques such as PIXE and INAA have been applied non-destructively to investigate the provenience of archaeological objects and to determine different layers of precious paintings. The results of this CRP will be provided to Member States for preservation of national heritage and secure legal enforcement.
F2.30.24, Electron beam treatment of organic pollutants contained in gaseous streams
(2004 - 2008)
The objective of the CRP is to develop reliable analytical methodologies concerning investigation of degradation effects of radiation on volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the gaseous phase. Moreover, laboratory and pilot scale tests will be performed and mechanism of the process studied, both on experimental and theoretical ways. Finally technical and economical feasibility of the process will be evaluated towards its full scale applications.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) are emitted in different processes, mostly combustion-based ones applied in power, chemical and metallurgical industries, municipal wastes incineration, etc. Many of them are persistent in environment, so called Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). They are responsible for ozone layer depletion, ground level and photochemical smog formation, contribute to the greenhouse effect, most of them being carcinogenic or/and mutagenic. Some tests performed in different countries have shown that electron beam technology can be a promising technique in these applications. Good removing efficiency for chlorohydrocarbons, dioxins and PAH was demonstrated in the laboratory scale. Different hybrid techniques like eb/absorption or eb/catalysis were studied as well. However, due to the different products' formation, this technique should be studied carefully further concerning process mechanism, analyses of products and possible technical solutions' applications.
New CRPs to be initiated in 2005
High Currents Cyclotron Targetry and Target Chemistry
