Rapid method to determine Sr-89/90 in steel samples

摘要

The rapid measurement of Sr-89/90 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 Sr-89 + Sr-90 and/or Y-90 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 Sr-89 + Sr-90, Sr-90, and discrimination between Sr-89 and Sr-90 are discussed. This approach has a sample preparation time of 6-8 h for steel samples.