Radiochemistry in India

Abstract

A major expansion in the experimental programme of Atomic Energy occurred with the establishment of Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay (AEET). Along with the setting up of the India's first reactor APSARA, a prototype radiochemistry laboratory was set up at the Trombay site. This laboratory was to serve as a training ground for a team of chemists, chemical engineers and metallurgists in the handling of high radioactive substances. This prototype laboratory having an active area of 375 m 2 . and associated service area was fully commissioned and was operational by 1958. In view of high technology involved in the design and operation of a Class A radioactive laboratory, Dr. H. Bhabha sought the support of United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). This laboratory at south site of Trombay complex had two radioactive wings equipped with six fume hoods in each wing. In addition, there were a large number of β, γ boxes and glove boxes. There was a well equipped counting room with facilities for α and β counting and γ spectrometry with a 100 channel analyser. The experience gained during this period became useful in planning the future facilities such as plutonium laboratory at Fuel Reprocessing Plant, the Radiological Laboratories at Trombay, BARC, and similar laboratories at IGCAR. Initially, radiochemistry research programme was based on the availability of APSARA reactor for nuclear and radiation chemistry studies and plutonium, protactinium, and actinium obtained from UKAEA for research in actinide chemistry. Dr. M.V. Ramaniah who had taken over as Head, Radiochemistry Division in 1965 was the driving force for the completion and commissioning of radiological laboratories at Trombay around 1969. The chemistry wing of the new complex has 14 laboratories of size 7 × 10m, three low active laboratories of size 6 × 10m, a modern counting room equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, and an alpha tight hot cell with master slave manipulators. Each laboratory room was provided with a large number of fume hoods and glove boxes, conditioned fresh air supply with 10−12 air changes/hr, well managed liquid effluent system connecting all the laboratories and state-of-the-art health and safety devices for continuous monitoring of radioactivity. The alpha tight hot cell was commissioned for synthesis of transplutonium elements as well as burn up studies. The laboratory is equipped with a variety of modern instrumentation such as mass spectrometer, ESR spectrometer, modern spectrophotometer, thermal analyser, XRD system, and α and γ spectrometer. The area of research and development were also broadened with the availability of variable energy cyclotron at Calcutta and medium energy heavy ion accelerator Pelletron at TIFR, Mumbai. The area of research activities which are actively being carried out are (1) Nuclear chemistry, (2) Actinide and process chemistry, (3) Studies on solid state chemistry and spectroscopy of actinide and analytical spectroscopy, and (4) Training and services. This paper highlights some of the important achievements in the first two areas in brief.