Method for 90Sr Analysis in Environmental Samples Using Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry with Daly Ion-Counting System.

In this work, a new 90Sr analysis method was developed using the Isotopx Ltd., Phoenix X62 thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS). Excellent ion beam sensitivity was demonstrated with the detection of 1 mBq (0.2 fg) 90Sr on a Daly ion-counting system. The abundance sensitivity for the 90Sr/88Sr ratio was 2.1 × 10-10, and this could ensure measurement of 100 Bq·kg-1 (19 fg·g-1) 90Sr in an environmental sample with 100 μg·g-1 stable strontium concentration. For analytical method validation, 90Sr was determined in two certified reference materials, for example, wild berry (IRMM-426) and freshwater lake sediment (NIST-4354), for the first time in the history of TIMS. This mass spectrometry method is faster than conventional radiometric techniques; however, interference from 90Zr and peak tailing on the higher mass side from 88Sr must be considered for a reliable 90Sr determination.