RAPID METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF RADIOSTRONTIUM IN EMERGENCY MILK SAMPLES

Journal Article · Thu Jul 17 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Journal of Radiological and Nuclear Chemistry

OSTI ID:972204

Maxwell, S; Culligan, B

A new rapid separation method for radiostrontium in emergency milk samples was developed at the Savannah River Site (SRS) Environmental Bioassay Laboratory (Aiken, SC, USA) that will allow rapid separation and measurement of Sr-90 within 8 hours. The new method uses calcium phosphate precipitation, nitric acid dissolution of the precipitate to coagulate residual fat/proteins and a rapid strontium separation using Sr Resin (Eichrom Technologies, Darien, IL, USA) with vacuum-assisted flow rates. The method is much faster than previous method that use calcination or cation exchange pretreatment, has excellent chemical recovery, and effectively removes beta interferences. When a 100 ml sample aliquot is used, the method has a detection limit of 0.5 Bq/L, well below generic emergency action levels.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC09-08SR22470
• OSTI ID: 972204
• Report Number(s): WSRC-STI-2008-00359; TRN: US1001980
• Journal Information: Journal of Radiological and Nuclear Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Radiological and Nuclear Chemistry
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
BIOASSAY
CALCINATION
CALCIUM PHOSPHATES
CATIONS
DISSOLUTION
FLOW RATE
MILK
NITRIC ACID
PRECIPITATION
RESINS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SENSITIVITY
STRONTIUM