Separation and collection of iodine, sulfur, and phosphorous anion complexes for subsequent radiochemical analysis

摘要

We developed a method to separate anion complexes of sulfur, iodine, and phosphorus to enable determination by radiochemical techniques. This method involves ion chromatographic separation of the anion complexes from other highly emitting radioactive species such as cesium-137 and strontium-90 which interfere with radiochemical analysis. We essentially use the ion chromatograph as a sample pretreatment method. The samples are injected onto a cation exchange column which allows the anions to pass through while retaining the positively charged species. These anions are collected in the column effluent and measured by nuclear counting methods. This paper establishes the separation and collection protocol, collection efficiencies for sulfur, iodine, and phosphorus anion standards, and overall efficiencies and detection limits for the separation and subsequent radiochemical analysis of iodine-129 from both environmental level and high salt waste samples.