Sequential separation of Fe and Sr from liquid samples by using Sr resin and rapid determination of 55Fe and 89,90Sr

• Fe (III) and Sr (II) ions can be separated by using Sr resin and mixture of HCl and HNO3.
• The optimal binding strength is achieved in 6 M HCl+3 M HNO3.
• Varying of concentrations of acids in the mixture allows their selective separation.
• Separation of Sr and Fe on Sr resin enables simple determination of 89,90Sr and 55Fe.

The obtained results showed that the Sr resin can be used for the chromatographic separation of Fe (III) and Sr (II) ions by using a mixture of HCl and HNO3. It was shown that the binding strength of Fe (III) decreases with increasing concentration of HNO3 while the binding strength of Sr (II) increases. It was found that the optimal bonding strength is achieved in 6 mol/L HCl:3 mol/L HNO3 and varying concentrations of acid in the mixture allow their selective separation. On basis of these results, a method for the separation of 55Fe and 89,90Sr from liquid samples which consists of binding of Fe and Sr on Sr resin and separation from a number of elements by 6 mol/L HCl:3 mol/L HNO3 and their mutual separation by eluting of Sr with 4 mol/L HCl is established. The method enables efficient simultaneous separation (with high recovery) of 89,90Sr and 55Fe and in combination with Čerenkov counting rapid determination of 89,90Sr.