RAPID TRACE ANALYSIS OF SR-89,SR-90 IN ENVIRONMENTAL-SAMPLES BY COLLINEAR LASER RESONANCE IONIZATION MASS-SPECTROMETRY

A fast non-radiometric technique for ultratrace analysis of the radioi sotopes Sr-89 and Sr-90 in environmental samples has been developed by combining mass separation with collinear laser resonance ionization s pectrometry. The efficiency and isotopic selectivity of this method al lows the determination of 3 x 10(6) atoms of Sr-90 and 1 x 10(8) atoms of Sr-89 in the presence of 10(17) atoms of stable strontium, corresp onding to an overall efficiency of better than 10(-5) and a suppressio n of stable strontium of more than 10(10). Simple and fast chemical se paration procedures in combination with this technique enable the accu rate determination of Sr-89,Sr-90 activity in various types of environ mental samples within one day, which is important in case of an emerge ncy. The results for different environmental and technical samples, in cluding air filters, soil, grass and milk as well as cooling water fro m a nuclear power station, are presented, indicating the potential and versatility of this technique.