Ll. Smith et al., APPLICATION OF EMPORE(TM) STRONTIUM RAD DISKS TO THE ANALYSIS OF RADIOSTRONTIUM IN ENVIRONMENTAL WATER SAMPLES, Radiochimica Acta, 73(3), 1996, pp. 165-170
A solid phase extraction method for analyzing radioactive strontium in
surface, ground, and drinking waters is presented. Strontium is simpl
y isolated by pulling an acidified sample aliquot through an Empore(TM
) Strontium Rad Disk with a vacuum, and the disk is subsequently assay
ed for beta activity. The method is efficient, safe, reliable, and pot
entially field deployable. Sample preparation and counting source prep
aration may be condensed into a single procedure, thereby improving ef
ficiency and eliminating many potential sources of laboratory error. M
oreover, many of the hazardous chemicals associated with traditional s
trontium procedures are eliminated. Samples are easily batched, and a
one-liter sample may be prepared with as little as 20 min of effort. F
or a one-liter aqueous sample, up to 3 mg of strontium can be retained
by the disks. Chemical and radiometric interferences are discussed.