Radiostrontium separation and measurement in a single step using plastic scintillators plus selective extractants. Application to aqueous sample analysis

This study describes a new protocol for 90Sr determination in water samples based on the use of a selective extractant (DtBuCH18C6) and plastic scintillator microspheres. The proposed procedure unifies chemical separation and sample measurement preparation in a single step to reduce the effort, time and reagents required for analysis. In addition, the final measurement does not produce mixed waste. The minimum activity detectable for 10 mL of sample solution is 0.46 Bq L−1. Relative errors for the determination of 90Sr activity in drinking, sea and river waters are less than 4%.