Chelating scintillation fibers for measurements of 137Cs

Solid scintillating fibers, coated with a dual-mechanism bifunctional polymer shown to bind Cs(I) in alkaline solutions, were developed for measurement of 137Cs. The effect of the epoxy-polymer coating thickness on attenuation of the signal from 137Cs was evaluated. After optimal coating conditions were determined, both scintillation fiber and resin functions were retained, producing stable field-ready fibers. Temporal studies were performed to examine the kinetics of 137Cs uptake into the resin. Calibration curves of the fiber response were generated by beta-emission from solutions of 137Cs dissolved in 1 M sodium hydroxide. The plots exhibited a linear response over a range of 4-3200 nCi/mL (3.4 x 10(-10)-2.7 x 10(-7) M 137Cs), with a limit of detection of 3.65 nCi/mL (approximately 42 parts per trillion 137Cs). The distribution coefficient of Cs was determined to be 490 +/- 50 mL/g from these measurements. Selectivity studies of the resin were performed in the presence of 100 fold excess of Sr(II), Al(III), and nonradioactive Cs(I). Linear calibration plots were obtained in the presence of these potential interferences, but at a reduced sensitivity. The fibers were also used to evaluate the 137Cs content of a mock tank waste sample to show the potential of the fibers in complicated matrixes.