Royal Military College of Canada

Research Groups at RMC

Analytical Sciences Group

Research

The research activities of the Analytical Sciences Group focus on laboratory and field studies of organic, inorganic and radiological parameters. These projects are often focused on the specific needs of DND, but also contribution to wider scientific objectives.

Evaluation of Radioactivity in Historical Artefacts

In the twenty first century the health effects associated with acute and chronic exposure to radioactivity are well understood. Radionuclides are still used in specific applications as diverse as domestic smoke alarms, medical radiotherapy and density measurement in the construction industry. These devices are carefully tailored to minimize radiation exposure. In the early twentieth century the ‘new’ science of radiochemistry was widely applied. Materials containing uranium, thorium and radium where even ingested as ‘tonics’. Radium was used to illuminate devices and dials, and few precautions were taken by those involved in manufacture or use. Radium has now been replaced in this role by low cost energy storage systems and in specialized applications by the far safer radionuclide, tritium. However, radium is still present on historically important pieces held by museums. These devices are carefully stored and maintained to ensure the safety of staff and the public. ASG investigates the potential loss of radon gas during the radioactive decay of radium artefacts. The levels of radon do not pose a direct hazard to the public, but the storage of such can elevate radon levels. Gamma-ray spectroscopy is used to identify the radionuclide ‘daughters’ of radon. Data are collected and analysed in real-time from devices, meters and dials.

Environmental Radioactivity

Nuclear powered and nuclear capable vessels visit Canada’s east and west coasts as part of the country’s NATO obligations. DND is committed to the safety of Canadian Forces and the public. This commitment includes demonstrating the long safety record of such vessels during every visit to Canada ports. As part of the Environmental Monitoring Strategy Program, samples of seawater, sediment, sea-life and flora are obtained from specific locations to determine the background radioactivity in the region of each berth. Regular seawater samples are also obtained during the visit of each vessel. These samples have successfully demonstrated the safety of such visits for many years. Recent research has also focused on the development of model systems to study the bioaccumulation of significant radionuclides. These studies aim to identify the profiles for radionuclides that would be released in the event of an incident, and facilitate the detection of such radionuclides, even at trace levels, in plants. These studies will further strengthen the capacity to detect radioactivity, and would provide biomarkers in the unlikely event of an incident.

Copper and Historical Structures

Copper is not a common roofing material in modern construction. However, many historically important buildings do have copper roofing, which is periodically replaced to maintain architectural integrity. Over time copper looses its metallic colour and develops a green oxide layer. This layer is slowly eroded as particulates and is dissolved in acidic rainwater. This copper is not a hazard to human health. Copper widely used in plumbing and the limit of 1.0 part per million in drinking water is a taste and colour aesthetic objective. In contrast, copper is markedly toxic in the marine environment and its release into freshwater is limited to 2.0 part per billion. In most cases dilution in the storm water system and sediment re-absorption of copper marks its freshwater effects negligible. However, waterborne transportation is a key feature of Canada’s history and many historically important buildings, and copper roofs, are located close to rivers and lakes. Dilution and sediment ion exchange may not occur in the direct discharge from such structures. ASG is investigating copper discharge from buildings within the Royal Military College as due diligence activity by DND and as a model for other historical buildings. Sample collection is occurring over an extended period to capture the complex climatic influences on potential run off. Snow accumulation during winter months has offered the possibility of elevated copper levels during spring run off. Whilst Kingston’s hot dry summer months, with moderate air pollution, suggest the potential for a second peak during periodic summer precipitation.

Pressurised Solvent Techniques

Pressurised solvent extraction (PSE) offers significant advantages over traditional extraction methods such as Soxhlet. Extractions occur more quickly and require fewer additional preparative chemistry steps before analysis. The latter results in fewer opportunities for sample contamination and greater precision. Research at ASG focuses on improving PSE performance by facilitating the analysis of smaller samples and including post extraction preparative chemistry within the extraction vessel, and by reducing analytical detection limits by cell passivation. These approaches can greatly reduce the mass of material required for analysis, and help to attain environmental detection limits. Reductions in sample mass are not of widespread value, but offer considerable advantages within DND and to certain areas of environmental research. Canadian Forces stationed abroad take a significant number of environmental samples to ensure the health of Canadian Forces and to demonstrate Canada’s respect for the environment of other countries. Sample collection and transport in remote areas presents a significant logistic demand. The use of novel analytical techniques can reduce this burden. Existing PSE systems are capable of assessing many environmental decision making criteria, such as those for the assessment of soil contamination. However, widening environmental legislation and the more demanding requirement of sediment quality guidelines demand detection limits below those that can be readily obtained from commercial systems. ASG has developed passivated PSE extraction methods for the analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls and polyaromatic hydrocarbons at 10 to 100 lower levels than can be attained from normal systems. Work continues to extend these methods to other persistent environmental pollutants.

Analysis of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Avian Blood

The analysis of tissue and blood is significantly more demanding than that of soil, water or plant material. Extraction using organic solvents also extracts protein and lipid material that can cause severe interferences during analysis. Moreover, the typical mass of material used in extraction, 5-10 g, can be difficult to obtain as tissue or blood. This problem becomes very significant in the analysis of avian samples. To achieve flight even the largest birds must have relatively small body mass and limited blood supply. The sacrifice of individuals can achieve the required quantities in most species, but such an approach is rarely attractive and certainly prohibited for endangered species. ASG has developed pressurized solvent extraction methods capable efficiently extracting 0.5 g samples and achieving partial removal of proteins and lipids within the cell system. Extracts are then analysed using a large volume injection and highly specific ion trap ms-ms technology. By these methods detection limits in the parts per billion range are attained and excellent specificity is observed. The partial removal of proteins and lipids commonly results in rapid inlet fouling. However, post injection heating to 400oC eliminates this problem. Validation of PCB congener analysis has been achieved with part per billion detection limits. Ongoing research extends this work to other persistent organic pollutants and to field samples obtained from the locally endangered Black Tern, Childonias niger.