Measurement of 90Sr and 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio in Japanese cow milk sample using thermal ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract

The pure beta emitter 90Sr (T1/2 = 28.8y) is a typical contaminant released by nuclear accidents and nuclear explosions. In the event of a nuclear disaster, it is crucial to identify radioactive pollutants quickly, to expedite the public's awareness of radiation exposure. In this work, a rapid 90Sr analysis protocol using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) was developed for milk samples. With the improved sample preparation, Sr separation, and a newly developed TIMS method, 18 milk samples can be analyzed in less than 30 h and only 1 mL of cow milk is required for the complete analysis. The minimum detectable activity concentration of 90Sr is affected by the stable Sr concentration therefore, it is around 500 mBq·kg−1 (∼100ag·g−1). Additionally, 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios (0.71518(9)–0.74132(4)) were determined for the first time in Japanese cow milk samples.