Rapid method to determine 89/90Sr in steel samples

Abstract

The rapid measurement of 89/90Sr in steel samples is important in the event of a radiological emergency as well as for the characterization of routine nuclear decommissioning samples. A new method for the determination of radiostrontium in 1–2 g steel samples has been developed at the Savannah River Environmental Laboratory. The new method employs a rugged acid digestion that includes hydrofluoric acid, followed by a single preconcentration step to rapidly collect the radiostrontium and remove nearly all of the high iron content. A fusion step can be implemented after the steel dissolution when soil, concrete, or highly refractory particles are present. The 89Sr + 90Sr and/or 90Y are separated using extraction chromatographic resins and measured radiometrically, either by gas flow proportional counting or liquid scintillation counting. Several approaches for the measurement of 89Sr + 90Sr, 90Sr, and discrimination between 89Sr and 90Sr are discussed. This approach has a sample preparation time of 6–8 h for steel samples.