A Simple Method to Screen for Radiostrontium in Water by Ion Exchange Chromatography. Issue 6 (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nguyen, Dao M.; Moody, W. Allen; Williamson, John A.
• Is Part Of: Health physics. Volume 116:Issue 6(2019:Jun.)
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: 90Sr -- contamination, environmental -- fission products -- radiation, beta; Biophysics -- Periodicals; Health Physics -- periodicals; Radiation Protection -- periodicals; Radiotherapy -- periodicals; Medische fysica; Electronic journals; 612.01448
• DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-9078

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: Radiostrontium isotopes ( 85 Sr, 89 Sr, and 90 Sr) are major fission by-products in nuclear reactors, in radiological events, and in environmental radioactive contamination. A method to analyze 89 Sr and 90 Sr in water has been developed using gradient elution with dilute hydrochloric acid and cation exchange resin, followed by carbonate precipitation. Counting was done on a gas proportional counter. The sample was recounted a second time after 2 to 3 wk to permit 90 Y, a progeny of 90 Sr, to achieve secular equilibrium and to allow 89 Sr and 90 Sr to be determined. This method was found to be simple, exhibiting high recovery, reduced use of hazardous chemicals, and lower cost compared to other current methods. An extensive comparison of the performance of the cation exchange method vs. a method using strong nitric acid (US Environmental Protection Agency Method 905.0) and a method using a specific strontium resin was conducted on performance test samples containing 90 Sr (in a number of matrices) from the US Department of Energy's Mixed Analyte Performance Evaluation Program and mixed 89 Sr- and 90 Sr-containing water samples from the Environmental Resource Associates quality assurance program. The method described here is shown to yield comparable results to others.