The Department of Chemistry at Eastern Michigan University offers M.S. degree in Chemistry with opportunities to do research in the areas of radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry. Radioisotope Techniques (including laboratory), Nuclear Analytical Techniques and Nuclear Chemistry courses are offered routinely. In addition special topics courses in Neutron Activation Analysis, Nuclear Power and other topics of nuclear interest are offered.
The M.S. program requires an elaborate research thesis. Good facilities are available for doing research in nuclear and radiochemistry. A laboratory is set up for doing radiochemistry work and the University has a Type B Broadscope license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for working with various radioactive materials. The laboratory has several NaI(Tl) scintillation crystal gamma-ray spectrometers, Ge(Li) and High Purity Germanium detectors, PC-based multi-channel analyzers. The laboratory also has multisample gamma-ray counting systems and liquid scintillation systems. Ford Nuclear Reactor at the University of Michigan, a 2 MW swimming pool reactor, is six miles from Eastern's campus and is available for neutron irradiations. Additional counting facilities are available at the reactor.
A gas jet system has been set up in a beam port of the Ford Nuclear Reactor and is operating. The transit time for fission products has been measured to be about 0.5 second. The nature of interaction between various gases and fission fragments is being explored with the gas jet system. Nuclear chemistry work involves development of fast, gas-phase chemical separations for the study of short-lived fission products and the study of the decay properties of extremely short-lived fission products (half- lives of a few seconds).
The Radiochemistry work concentrates on the development of radiochemical separations applicable for neutron activation analysis. The group has developed radiochemical procedures for the analysis of arsenic, antimony and mercury in environmental samples. Similar developmental work is continuing. Graduate assistantships are available.
For further information contact:
Professor K. Rengan
Department of Chemistry
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
PHONE: (313) 487-0106
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