Improved method for the separation of radioactive strontium from various samples by mixed solvent anion exchange

Procedures for the separation and determination of Sr-90 in liquid samples, with cation and anion exchangers have been described. Strontium, yttrium a nd other cations bind to the cation exchanger and are eluted from the colum n by means of nitric acid. Separation of yttrium and strontium from other c ations is carried out on columns filled with strong base anion exchangers i n nitrate form with alcoholic solutions of nitric acid. This separation met hod enables the determination of Sr-90 through yttrium on a low-level gas f low alpha, beta-counter, as well as through strontium on a low-level liquid scintillation counter by means of Cherenkov counting. Such procedures have been tested by the determination of Sr-90 in water, wine, medium radioacti ve liquid waste samples, milk and clover samples. For comparison, the deter mination has also been carried out by the standard method. It has been show ed that the developed procedures might produce a high efficiency in stronti um separation and a satisfactory accuracy of determination.