Separation of strontium from large amounts of calcium, with application to radiostrontium analysis.

The elution first of calcium and then of strontium by complex formation with cyclohexanediaminetetra-acetic acid (CyDTA) after sorption on ion-exchange columns, is shown to require careful control of pH and the concentrations of CyDTA and NH(4)(+). A procedure is described for volumetric analysis of calcium and strontium, and for use of this separation procedure before determination of (90)Sr in sea-water. Careful choice of reagents and materials is shown to be necessary for use of such a method in determination of trace amounts of radiostrontium.