A review on determination of 90Sr from alkaline waters using precipitation of Ca(OH)2and Ba(Ra)SO4

Abstract

Since the Chernobyl accident (1989) and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, concern about the contamination of 90Sr in the environment has increased considerably. It is important for public safety to monitor 90Sr in aquatic environments due to the radiotoxic of its biochemical similarities with calcium in living organisms. Several techniques for the separation of strontium from matrices have been reported such as solvent extraction, liquid membrane extraction, ion-exchange, and extraction chromatography using Sr-Resin. This review provided a summary on literature works to develop efficiency radiochemical separation for removing 90Sr from waters. Radiometric method normally requires a long time and complete separation of Sr from the matrix and other radionuclides. One of simple method based on Ca(OH)2 precipitation in alkaline solution and purification of Yttrium using Ba(Ra)SO4 precipitate was applied to the separation of Sr from seawater and underground water sample. This review is a mini-report for determination of 90Sr removal from contaminated waters.