Zirconium decontamination factor test on DGA and Sr resin for ⁹⁰Sr analysis using inorganic mass spectrometry

The stable ⁹⁰Zr isotope causes isobaric interferences with ⁹⁰Sr determination during inorganic mass spectrometry applications. To avoid interference of ⁹⁰Zr, chemical separation of Zr from Sr is carried out using extraction chromatography resins. In this study, Zr decontamination factors were determined with Eichrom DGA and Sr resins. The Zr decontamination factor of Sr resin (∼ 10⁴) was one magnitude higher than DGA's (∼ 10³). The recovery of Sr was around 90% in both resins. In a combination of two separation steps either using DGA-Sr resin or Sr-Sr resin, a Zr decontamination level of 10⁷-10⁸ could be achieved. (author)