Simultaneous radionuclide determination using PSresin: 2in2 and 2in1 tandem configuration

Area of Science:

• Radiochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Analyzing radionuclide mixtures like strontium-89 (89Sr) with strontium-90 (90Sr) and 90Sr with plutonium isotopes presents significant challenges, especially in emergency situations.
• High activity ratios (e.g., 89Sr > 20x 90Sr) complicate quantification and necessitate delayed measurements.
• Current separation and measurement techniques for these mixtures are often time-consuming and matrix-dependent, highlighting the need for faster, reliable methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel method for the simultaneous determination of 89Sr/90Sr and 90Sr/plutonium isotope mixtures.
• To assess the efficiency and accuracy of two distinct PSresin-based strategies for rapid radionuclide analysis.
• To provide a solution for routine laboratories requiring fast and reliable quantification of complex radionuclide mixtures.

Main Methods:

• A novel method employing tandem Poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (PSresin) cartridges for simultaneous radionuclide separation and determination.
• Two strategies were investigated: a two-cartridge, two-measurement (2in2) approach and a single-cartridge, one-measurement (2in1) approach utilizing alpha/beta discrimination.
• Method validation was performed using standard solutions and real-world samples (river water).

Main Results:

• Both 2in2 and 2in1 strategies achieved quantification errors below 10% for the analyzed radionuclide mixtures.
• The 2in2 strategy provided results within 5 hours, while the 2in1 strategy yielded results within 8 hours from sample reception.
• Successful application to river water samples demonstrates the method's practical utility.

Conclusions:

• The developed PSresin-based method significantly improves 89Sr and 90Sr quantification, reducing analysis time from 30 days to under 5 hours.
• Simultaneous measurement of 90Sr and plutonium isotopes halves the number of analyses required, leading to substantial time and cost savings.
• This method offers a substantial advancement for routine laboratory analysis of complex radionuclide mixtures, crucial for environmental monitoring and emergency response.