Rapid 90Sr determination using laser ablation ICP-QQQ-MS

As the Fukushima nuclear accident proved, the analytical laboratories cannot provide a rapid response for 90Sr contamination using the classic radiometric measurement methods resulting in poor public information which significantly decreases the trust towards governmental institutes.

However, the monitoring of 90Sr is important since it is a “bone-seeker” element and is easily accumulated in bone tissues causing long term radiation exposure among the population.

As a pure beta particle emitter radionuclide, the determination of 90Sr is a complex and time-consuming task (min. 1 day) due to the necessity of sample preparation and chemical separation of Sr.The scientific aim of this research project is to maximize the merit of mass spectrometry to fulfil the request of society for prompt and reliable information in case of a nuclear event.

For this purpose, the latest state-of-the-art instruments, Agilent 8800 ICP-QQQ-MS and Cetac Teledyne Excite Excimer Laser ablation system will be used in an interdisciplinary approach to shorten the analysis time (