Analytical Sciences

Ultrasonic Mist Generation Assist Argon–Nitrogen Mix Gas Effect on Radioactive Strontium Quantification by Online Solid-Phase Extraction with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Makoto FURUKAWA,*1,*2,*3 Makoto MATSUEDA,*1 and Yoshitaka TAKAGAI*1,*4

*1 Faculty of Symbiotic Systems Science, Cluster of Science and Technology, Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima 960-1296, Japan
*2 Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
*3 PerkinElmer Japan Co., Ltd., 134 Godo, Hodogaya, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-0005, Japan
*4 Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan

The Ar–N₂ mix gas effect can easily improve the sensitivity of ICPMS; however, this effect discriminates against Sr. In this study, it was found that Ar–N₂ mixed gases introduced into nebulizing gas enhanced the sensitivity of online solid-phase extraction (SPE) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) for radioactive strontium quantification. An ultrasonic nebulizer (USN) improved the Ar–N₂ mixture gases effect of Sr and the mix gases (with USN) enhanced 3.7-times the signal intensity of Sr in normal pure Ar gas (with USN) in an online SPE-ICPMS. By adapting the gas-loading means from a nebulizing gas unit via USN, no careful tuning was necessary for the plasma turning. With this signal enhancement, a 0.06 pg/L detection limit (0.3 Bq/L) was achieved for radioactive strontium (⁹⁰Sr) in online SPE-ICPMS within 30 min. In addition, environmental paddle water in the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant was measured and the valued correspond to that obtained by radiometry.

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