Development of measurement method of radiostrontium using plastic scintillator bottle

Rapid and convenient analysis of radiostrontium is desired after the nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The conventional method to separate radiostrontium in seawater is time-consuming complicated procedures with deleterious substances. In this study, a new method to measure radiostrontium in seawater was developed using plastic scintillator via liquid scintillation system coupled with a convenient chemical separation technique. The counting efficiency was 70%, the background was 0.14 cps. When the counting time is 60 minutes and 70% of chemical yield, the minimum detectable concentration is estimated as 0.02 Bq L^-1 started with 1 L water sample. This method is proved to be effective for rapid screening of radioactive strontium in seawater. (author)