Assuring a Future U.S.-Based Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise
Assuring a Future U.S.-Based Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2012-09-16

Total Pages: 220

ISBN-13: 0309225345

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The growing use of nuclear medicine, the potential expansion of nuclear power generation, and the urgent needs to protect the nation against external nuclear threats, to maintain our nuclear weapons stockpile, and to manage the nuclear wastes generated in past decades, require a substantial, highly trained, and exceptionally talented workforce. Assuring a Future U.S.-Based Nuclear and Radiochemistry Expertise examines supply and demand for expertise in nuclear chemistry nuclear science, and radiochemistry in the United States and presents possible approaches for ensuring adequate availability of these skills, including necessary science and technology training platforms. Considering a range of reasonable scenarios looking to the future, none of these areas are likely to experience a decrease in demand for expertise. However, many in the current workforce are approaching retirement age and the number of students opting for careers in nuclear and radiochemistry has decreased dramatically over the past few decades. In order to avoid a gap in these critical areas, increases in student interest in these careers, in the research and educational capacity of universities and colleges, and sector specific on-the-job training will be needed. Concise recommendations are given for actions to avoid a shortage of nuclear chemistry, nuclear scientists, and radiochemists in the future.

Reprocessing and Recycling of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Reprocessing and Recycling of Spent Nuclear Fuel

Author: Robin Taylor

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2015-04-18

Total Pages: 685

ISBN-13: 178242217X

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Reprocessing and Recycling of Spent Nuclear Fuel presents an authoritative overview of spent fuel reprocessing, considering future prospects for advanced closed fuel cycles. Part One introduces the recycling and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, reviewing past and current technologies, the possible implications of Generation IV nuclear reactors, and associated safely and security issues. Parts Two and Three focus on aqueous-based reprocessing methods and pyrochemical methods, while final chapters consider the cross-cutting aspects of engineering and process chemistry and the potential for implementation of advanced closed fuel cycles in different parts of the world. - Expert introduction to the recycling and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel - Detailed overview of past and current technologies, the possible implications of Generation IV nuclear reactors, and associated safely and security issues - A lucid exploration of aqueous-based reprocessing methods and pyrochemical methods

Research Progress on Environmental, Health, and Safety Aspects of Engineered Nanomaterials
Research Progress on Environmental, Health, and Safety Aspects of Engineered Nanomaterials

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2013-11-25

Total Pages: 163

ISBN-13: 0309291895

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Despite the increase in funding for research and the rising numbers of peer-reviewed publications over the past decade that address the environmental, health, and safety aspects of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), uncertainty about the implications of potential exposures of consumers, workers, and ecosystems to these materials persists. Consumers and workers want to know which of these materials they are exposed to and whether the materials can harm them. Industry is concerned about being able to predict with sufficient certainty whether products that it makes and markets will pose any environmental, health or safety issues and what measures should be taken regarding manufacturing practices and worldwide distribution to minimize any potential risk. However, there remains a disconnect between the research that is being carried out and its relevance to and use by decision-makers and regulators to make informed public health and environmental policy and regulatory decisions. Research Progress on Environmental, Health, and Safety Aspects of Nanomaterials evaluates research progress and updates research priorities and resource estimates on the basis of results of studies and emerging trends in the nanotechnology industry. This report follows up the 2012 report A Research Strategy for Environmental, Health, and Safety Aspects of Engineered Nanomaterials, which presented a strategic approach for developing the science and research infrastructure needed to address uncertainties regarding the potential environmental, health, and safety risks posed by ENMs. This new report looks at the state of nanotechnology research, examines market and regulatory conditions and their affect on research priorities, and considers the criteria for evaluating research progress on the environmental, health, and safety aspects of nanotechnology.

Nuclear Forensics
Nuclear Forensics

Author: Division on Earth and Life Studies

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2010-07-29

Total Pages: 32

ISBN-13: 0309159113

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Nuclear forensics is important to our national security. Actions, including provision of appropriate funding, are needed now to sustain and improve the nation's nuclear forensics capabilities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), working with cooperating agencies and national laboratories, should plan and implement a sustainable, effective nuclear forensics program. Nuclear forensics is the examination and evaluation of discovered or seized nuclear materials and devices or, in cases of nuclear explosions or radiological dispersals, of detonation signals and post-detonation debris. Nuclear forensic evidence helps law enforcement and intelligence agencies work toward preventing, mitigating, and attributing a nuclear or radiological incident. This report, requested by DHS, the National Nuclear Security Administration, and the Department of Defense, makes recommendations on how to sustain and improve U.S. nuclear forensics capabilities. The United States has developed a nuclear forensics capability that has been demonstrated in real-world incidents of interdicted materials and in exercises of actions required after a nuclear detonation. The committee, however, has concerns about the program and finds that without strong leadership, careful planning, and additional funds, these capabilities will decline.

Uranium Enrichment and Nuclear Weapon Proliferation
Uranium Enrichment and Nuclear Weapon Proliferation

Author: Allan S. Krass

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2020-11-20

Total Pages: 325

ISBN-13: 100020054X

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Originally published in 1983, this book presents both the technical and political information necessary to evaluate the emerging threat to world security posed by recent advances in uranium enrichment technology. Uranium enrichment has played a relatively quiet but important role in the history of efforts by a number of nations to acquire nuclear weapons and by a number of others to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. For many years the uranium enrichment industry was dominated by a single method, gaseous diffusion, which was technically complex, extremely capital-intensive, and highly inefficient in its use of energy. As long as this remained true, only the richest and most technically advanced nations could afford to pursue the enrichment route to weapon acquisition. But during the 1970s this situation changed dramatically. Several new and far more accessible enrichment techniques were developed, stimulated largely by the anticipation of a rapidly growing demand for enrichment services by the world-wide nuclear power industry. This proliferation of new techniques, coupled with the subsequent contraction of the commercial market for enriched uranium, has created a situation in which uranium enrichment technology might well become the most important contributor to further nuclear weapon proliferation. Some of the issues addressed in this book are: A technical analysis of the most important enrichment techniques in a form that is relevant to analysis of proliferation risks; A detailed projection of the world demand for uranium enrichment services; A summary and critique of present institutional non-proliferation arrangements in the world enrichment industry, and An identification of the states most likely to pursue the enrichment route to acquisition of nuclear weapons.

New Trends in Radiopharmaceutical Synthesis, Quality Assurance, and Regulatory Control
New Trends in Radiopharmaceutical Synthesis, Quality Assurance, and Regulatory Control

Author: Ali M. Emran

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-11-09

Total Pages: 504

ISBN-13: 1489906266

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Marking the 200th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, The Division of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology hosted a group of about 90 scientists from 15 different countries to discuss the new trends in radiopharmaceutical synthesis, quality assurance and regulatory control. This event took place in Washington, D.C. on August 27-30, 1990. When I first suggested the idea for this symposium, a group of scientists who pioneered the proposed topics offered their help to organize and run such a big task with me. Their names are listed here in appreciation. Thomas E. Boothe Cyclotron Facility, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida, USA Robert F. Dannals Division of Nuclear Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA Anthony L. Feliu Julich Nuclear Research Center, Julich, Germany Joanna S. Fowler Chemistry Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA George W. Kabalka Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA Hank F. Kung Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA James F. Lamb Imagents, Inc., Houston, Texas, USA Harold A. O'Brien, Jr. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA Joseph R. Peterson Dept. of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA Hernan Vera Ruiz International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria Roy S. Tilbury University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA In addition, a number of distinguished colleagues have participated in the process of reviewing the manuscripts presented in this volume. Their effort is sincerely acknowledged.

Countering Cyber Sabotage
Countering Cyber Sabotage

Author: Andrew A. Bochman

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2021-01-20

Total Pages: 232

ISBN-13: 1000292975

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Countering Cyber Sabotage: Introducing Consequence-Driven, Cyber-Informed Engineering (CCE) introduces a new methodology to help critical infrastructure owners, operators and their security practitioners make demonstrable improvements in securing their most important functions and processes. Current best practice approaches to cyber defense struggle to stop targeted attackers from creating potentially catastrophic results. From a national security perspective, it is not just the damage to the military, the economy, or essential critical infrastructure companies that is a concern. It is the cumulative, downstream effects from potential regional blackouts, military mission kills, transportation stoppages, water delivery or treatment issues, and so on. CCE is a validation that engineering first principles can be applied to the most important cybersecurity challenges and in so doing, protect organizations in ways current approaches do not. The most pressing threat is cyber-enabled sabotage, and CCE begins with the assumption that well-resourced, adaptive adversaries are already in and have been for some time, undetected and perhaps undetectable. Chapter 1 recaps the current and near-future states of digital technologies in critical infrastructure and the implications of our near-total dependence on them. Chapters 2 and 3 describe the origins of the methodology and set the stage for the more in-depth examination that follows. Chapter 4 describes how to prepare for an engagement, and chapters 5-8 address each of the four phases. The CCE phase chapters take the reader on a more granular walkthrough of the methodology with examples from the field, phase objectives, and the steps to take in each phase. Concluding chapter 9 covers training options and looks towards a future where these concepts are scaled more broadly.

The Nuclear Power Industry's Ageing Workforce
The Nuclear Power Industry's Ageing Workforce

Author: International Atomic Energy Agency

Publisher:

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 116

ISBN-13:

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Provides information on retaining the knowledge needed to design, operate and maintain nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the context of the ageing of the nuclear workforce. Information is provided on effective methods for transfer of knowledge in NPP operating organisations along with examples of proven management strategies.

Evaluation of Quantification of Margins and Uncertainties Methodology for Assessing and Certifying the Reliability of the Nuclear Stockpile
Evaluation of Quantification of Margins and Uncertainties Methodology for Assessing and Certifying the Reliability of the Nuclear Stockpile

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2009-04-02

Total Pages: 92

ISBN-13: 0309128536

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Maintaining the capabilities of the nuclear weapons stockpile and performing the annual assessment for the stockpile's certification involves a wide range of processes, technologies, and expertise. An important and valuable framework helping to link those components is the quantification of margins and uncertainties (QMU) methodology. In this book, the National Research Council evaluates: how the national security labs were using QMU, including any significant differences among the three labs its use in the annual assessment whether the applications of QMU to assess the proposed reliable replacement warhead (RRW) could reduce the likelihood of resuming underground nuclear testing This book presents an assessment of each of these issues and includes findings and recommendations to help guide laboratory and NNSA implementation and development of the QMU framework. It also serves as a guide for congressional oversight of those activities.