GAU-Radioanalytical Laboratories (GAU) is a long-established and experienced commercial group providing radioanalytical services, consultancy and research support for government, industrial (nuclear and environmental) and academic sectors. Our expertise in radiometric analysis, particularly for difficult-to-measure (DTM) radionuclides; radioanalytical project management; R&D and training is widely recognised. Our capability is underpinned by highly skilled staff, state-of-the-art facilities and high impact research covering the nuclear, chemical and geochemical sectors. Radioanalytical services include alpha and gamma spectrometry, liquid scintillation analysis, 3H, 14C, 36Cl and 129I extraction, and mass spectrometry all of which are available to in-house researchers and external clients.
GAU is a UKAS accredited laboratory (BS EN ISO/IEC 17025).
GAU is also a supporting laboratory for the National Nuclear Users Facility in next generation accelerated characterisation technologies (NNUF-EXACT).
Our services:
- Complex sample preparation and digestion techniques
- Gamma ray spectrometry of diverse matrices (HPGe and LEGe)
- Alpha spectrometry (Ra, Po, Th, U, Pu, Am, Cm)
- Low background liquid scintillation counting (3H, 14C, 35S, 36Cl,
41Ca, 45Ca, 55Fe, 63Ni, 99Tc, 129I, 147Pm, 151Sm, 228Ac, 241Pu) - Volatile radionuclide extraction from any material (Pyrolyser)
- Mass spectrometry (ICP-QQQ)
- Gas flow proportional counting (gross alpha/beta)
- Radiometric dating of sediments (137Cs and 210Pb)
Sectors and industries we work with:
- National and international universities and laboratories
- Nuclear decommissioning
- Environmental monitoring
- Government
- Defence
- Aviation
- Pharmaceuticals
- Petroleum and minerals extraction
- Civil engineering/ground remediation
- Geoenvironmental monitoring
Our research:
Our research predominantly originates from commercial activities and partnerships with our clients in the nuclear decommissioning, environmental/workplace monitoring, and nuclear safeguarding sectors. This has included developing new ways of characterising and managing nuclear wastes, particularly for difficult-to-measure (DTM) radionuclides via fundamental research into radionuclide – waste association, novel extractant / separation schemes, novel analytical procedures and measurement techniques and development of reference materials in support of data quality improvement. Another example of high impact collaborative research involves examining global plutonium inputs to assess nuclear fallout as a potential marker for the stratigraphic base of the Anthropocene.
GAU's research is undertaken by its highly trained and experienced postdoctoral staff, associated PhD and masters students and can be categorised into four main focus areas: waste characterisation and analytical techniques, remediation technologies, nuclear forensics, and environmental studies.
Contact us:
GAU Main Office
E: gau@noc.soton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0) 23 80 596587