Research on the Rapid Analysis Method of ⁹⁰Sr in Environmental Soil Samples

Institute of Nuclear Safety and Environmental Engineering Technology, China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing 102413 China

^* Corresponding Author’s Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

As an important fission product generated in nuclear reactors, ⁹⁰Sr is characterized by its high fission yield, long half-life, and tendency to enter the human body through the food chain, making it a key nuclide of concern in environmental radioactivity assessment. To enable rapid detection of ⁹⁰Sr in environmental samples under nuclear emergency conditions, a fast analytical method for ⁹⁰Sr in environmental soil samples was developed based on triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The method involves extracting Sr from soil via acid leaching, separating it from the matrix through co-precipitation with Ca(OH)₂, and further purifying Sr using Sr resin chromatography. The ⁹⁰Sr content was then determined by ICP-MS under a mixed gas flow of 1.0 ml/min NH₃ and 2.0 ml/min He. This method achieved a detection limit of 4.3 mBq/kg for ⁹⁰Sr in soil samples, with a total analysis time of 10 hours. Compared to traditional radiometric methods requiring 3–5 days for analysis, it better meets the need for rapid ⁹⁰Sr analysis under nuclear emergency response conditions.