Development of a method for rapid analysis of Ra-226 in groundwater and discharge water samples by ICP-QQQ-MS

A novel and rapid method has been developed for pre-concentration and measurement of 226Ra in groundwater and discharge water samples using the latest generation triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-QQQ-MS). Cation exchange and extraction chromatography are capable of pre-concentration factors of ~200 based on 1 L samples. The sensitivity and interference removal capability of ICP-QQQ-MS was assessed from spiked groundwaters, with the introduction of He collision gas required to minimise instrument background in high-matrix samples. The technique developed is potentially capable of detecting 226Ra activities as low as 5 mBq L−1 when combined with pre-concentration prior to measurement.