Fast determination of strontium radionuclides in milk with the aid of the cryptand 2.2.2

Abstract

Abstract A rapid method for separating strontium (Sr) radionuclides from liquid milk has been improved and tested for the determination of Sr-90 in milk. The method is based on the specific extraction of Sr from the milk with cryptand 2.2.2 on a cation exchange resin (Dowex Marathon C). Decontamination from other radionuclides such as those of caesium and from chemically similar elements such as calcium and barium is efficient. At least 6 samples can be treated in one day by one person. Tests were carried out on series of six 1.0 and 0.10 litre milk samples representing respectively routine milk samples and samples for fast analysis i.e milk contaminated with fresh fallout, including Ba-140, and requiring barium separation. For the 1.0 litre samples Sr recoveries ranged from 75–85 % while for 0.10 liter samples the range was 65–80 %. Conditions for the use of Sr-85 as yield tracer to correct for the losses were established. The method minimizes the handling of hazardous reagents.