Development of a novel method for the determination of 99Tc in environmental samples by ICP-MS

Critical comparison of radiometric and mass spectrometric methods for the determination of radionuclides in environmental, biological and nuclear waste samples

“…Alternatively, the extracted organic phase can be directly mixed with a scintillation cocktail for LSC measurement [188]. Extraction chromatography using Eichrom TEVA column has also been used for the separation of Tc from other radionuclides [49,191]. In this method, TcO 4 -is absorbed on the column by passing through the solution, and the interfering radionuclides are removed by washing with 0.1 mol/l HNO 3 , the TcO 4 -on the column is then eluted using 4 mol/l HNO 3 .…”

“…The long half-life of 99 Tc (0.211 My) and low specific activity (6.3 × 10 8 Bq/g) makes mass spectrometry a sensitive method for the determination of 99 Tc, AMS [192][193][194], TIMS [195][196] and ICP-MS [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]197] have been used for the determination of 99 Tc. In AMS, the separated TcO 4 -is mixed with Al or Nb to prepare a target, the sputtered TcO -ions is then stripped to TcO 14+ , separated in mass spectrometry, and measured by a gas ionization chamber.…”

“…ICP-MS as a very convenient mass spectrometric technique has been widely used for the determination of 99 Tc [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][197][198]. The main challenge for ICP-MS determination is interferences of isobaric and molecular ions.…”

Determination of technetium-99 in environmental samples: A review

“…As the major sources of 99 Tc, Sellafield and La Hague reprocessing plants discharge 99 Tc directly into Irish Sea and English Channel respectively. This 99 Tc is then transported to 11 the North Sea and further northwards through the Norwegian Sea to the Arctic and Greenland Sea. Seawater in these areas is contaminated and the concentration of 99 Tc is enhanced.…”

“…For further purification, solvent extraction is often utilized to separate 99 Tc from other interfering radionuclides. In recent years, extraction chromatography using TEVA-Spec TM (TEVA) resin has been employed to purify 99 Tc from the interfering radionculides [10][11][12][13]. The long halflife, and therefore low specific activity, of 99 Tc (0.64 Bq ng -1 ) makes mass spectrometry (MS) a potentially sensitive method for measurement of 99 Tc.…”