Radioactive strontium measurement using ICP-MS following cascade preconcentration and separation system

Abstract

A powerful preconcentration system, Cascade preconcentration and separation system, is based on the combination of two and more different types of the chemical preconcentration and separation techniques. This system can drastically enhance the sensitivity and performance of analytical instruments. In the present work, the online solid-phase extraction–ICP-MS incorporating the cascade preconcentration and separation system was outlined. This review includes the mix gas effect, the internal standard corrected signal integration method, and the one-shot data acquisition system of quantification and recovery in the cascade system. The system developed in our studies exhibited 0.06 ppq (0.3 Bq L–1) for the detection limit in 90Sr analysis and 2.9% of repeatability {10 ppq 90Sr (n = 10)} within an analytical time of approximately 20 min. The technique has thus overcome the analytical problems in radiometry and conventional ICP-MS. In addition, this has potentials to be applied to not only the analysis of radionuclides, but also to a variety of fields, such as environmental monitoring and nuclear medical field.