Rapid analytical method of Sr in urine sample; Rapid separation of Sr by phosphate co-precipitation and extraction chromatography, followed by determination by triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS)

Tomita, Jumpei; Takeuchi, Erina

Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 150, p.103 - 109, 2019/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.05.026

A rapid analytical method for determining Sr in urine samples (1-2 L) was developed to assess the internal exposure of workers in a radiological emergency. Strontium in a urine sample was rapidly separated by phosphate co-precipitation, followed by extraction chromatography with a tandem column of Pre-filter, TRU and Sr resin, and the Sr activity was determined by ICP-MS/MS. Measurement in the MS/MS mode with an O reaction gas flow rate 1 mL min showed no tailing of Sr at m/z = 90 up to 50 mg-Sr L. The interferences of Ge, Se and Zr at m/z = 90 were successfully removed by chemical separation. This analytical method was validated by the results of the analyses of synthetic urine samples (1.2-1.6 L) containing a known amount of Sr along with 1 mg of each of Ge, Se, Sr and Zr. The turnaround time for analysis was about 10 h, and the detection limit of Sr was approximately 1 Bq per urine sample.