N. Momoshima et al., DETERMINATION OF TC-99 IN COASTAL SEAWATER COLLECTED IN FUKUOKA, JAPAN, Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry, 197(2), 1995, pp. 245-251
Concentrations of Tc-99 were determined by inductively coupled plasma
mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) on coastal seawater in the general environm
ent in Japan. Technetium was enriched on iron hydroxide by repetitive
co-precipitation method from a large volume of seawater and separated
from impurities by solvent extraction and ion-exchange techniques. The
concentrations of Tc-99 were 1.0 to 7.4 mu Bql(-1), which was one ord
er of magnitude lower than the level reported on seawater from general
environment by beta-ray counting. Concentrations of Cs-137 determined
on the same seawater were 3.7 and 3.9 mEql(-1). The activity ratio of
Tc-99/Cs-137 was calculated to be 2.7x10(-4). This ratio was very clo
se to the value expected for fallout from nuclear tests.