Possibility of rapid determination of low-level 90Sr activity by combination of extraction chromatography separation and Cherenkov counting Original Research Article

The paper describes the examination of bonding of alkaline and alkaline-earth elements from solutions of nitric, sulphuric, acetic and hydrochloric acid on Sr.spec resin and their mutual separation. According to the obtained results, a procedure of isolation of 90Sr from natural samples has been created. It is shown that the strength of cation bonding depends on the acid applied and the solution composition. Chromatographic separation of strontium from other cations is possible by means of nitric and sulphuric acids, while it is not possible with hydrochloric acid. Similarly, chromatographic separation of potassium from strontium and other elements is possible with 5 M nitric acid. The possibility of detection of 90Sr on a low-level scintillation spectrometer by means of Cherenkov counting has been examined and the procedure of rapid determination in sediment and water samples has been created. The efficiency of a low-level scintillation spectrometer for 90Sr(90Y) by means of Cherenkov counting has been determined. It has also been shown that it depends on the acid solution applied. The paper shows that 90Sr can be determined by means of Cherenkov counting in water in the presence of low level activity of plutonium and americium.