Transurandräknande

Transurandräknande is a term used in Swedish to denote the study, cataloging, and counting of transuranic elements—chemical elements with atomic numbers greater than uranium (Z > 92). The word reflects the field’s focus on identifying, producing, and characterizing these elements, as well as understanding their properties, isotopes, and applications. In practice, transurandräknande sits within nuclear chemistry and nuclear physics and often involves collaboration between laboratories, universities, and safety agencies.

Most transuranic elements are synthetic and produced in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators. A few, such as neptunium (93) and plutonium (94), occur only in trace amounts in uranium-bearing ores as a result of neutron capture and natural decay processes. The heavier elements—from americium (95) onward to oganesson (118)—are mainly created in dedicated facilities and typically exist only briefly before decaying. Notable examples include plutonium-239, used in reactors and weapons, and americium-241, employed in smoke detectors and industrial gauges. Neutron sources based on curium, californium, and others have specialized scientific and industrial applications.

The study of transurandräknande faces challenges related to radioactivity, chemical toxicity, and short half-lives of many isotopes. Handling and experimentation require extensive shielding, remote manipulation, and strict regulatory controls. Measurement techniques include alpha, gamma, and mass spectrometry, as well as radiochemical separation to isolate specific isotopes for study. Safety, environmental monitoring, and waste management are integral parts of research and industry involving transuranic elements, particularly for long-lived isotopes and transuranic waste streams.