Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Determination of ultratrace-levels of 99Tc in low-level radioactive waste samples using ICP-QMS

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper proposes a rapid, accurate method of measuring 99Tc in low-level radioactive waste using microwave digestion, TEVA resin for chemical separation, and inductively coupled plasma-quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS). The minimum detectable activity of ICP-QMS for the determination of 99Tc was 8.5 mBq g−1 (13.6 pg g−1). The proposed method achieved chemical recovery of 88 % and with sensitivity superior to that of alternative radiochemical methods (e.g., liquid scintillation analyzer or LSA) when the data acquisition time for identical, low-concentration samples was taken into account.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ikäheimonen TK, Vartti VP, Ilus E, Mattila J (2002) Technetium-99 in Fucusand seawater samples in the Finnish coastal area of the Baltic Sea, 1999. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 252(2):309–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Chao JH, Tseng CL, Lee CL (2002) Sequential extraction separation for determination of technetium-99 in radwastes by ICP-MS. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 251(1):105–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. NRC (1982) Licensing requirements for land disposal of radioactive waste. Final rule, 10 CFR 61, Federal Register 47

  4. AEC (2012) Regulations on final disposal of low level radioactive waste and safety management of the facilities. http://erss.aec.gov.tw/law/EngLawContent.aspx?Type=E&id=52. Accessed 9 Sept 2012

  5. 61.55 Waste classification, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part061/full-text.html#part061-0055. Accessed 18 Aug 2014

  6. Andrews A (2006) Radioactive waste streams: waste classification for disposal. CRS Report Congress, pp 25–29

  7. AEC (2013) http://gamma1.aec.gov.tw/fcma/control_current_conditions_d.asp. Accessed 30 Jan 2013

  8. AEC (2006) Act on sites for establishment of low level radioactive waste final disposal facility. http://erss.aec.gov.tw/law/EngLawContent.aspx?Type=E&id=8. Accessed 24 May 2006

  9. Tagami K, Uchida S, García-León M (1998) Comparison of a radiation counting method and ICP-MS for the determination of 99Tc in environmental samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 234:147–151

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Uchida S, Tagami K (1997) Improvement of Tc separation procedure using a chromatographic resin for direct measurement by ICP-MS. Anal Chim Acta 357(1–2):1–3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Seki R, Kondo M (2005) An improved method for technetium determination in environmental samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 263(2):393–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hou X (2011) Analysis of urine for pure beta emitters: methods and application. Health Phys 101(2):159–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Wolf SF, Tsai Y (2005) Application of ICP-MS and HR-ICP-MS for the characterization of solutions generated from corrosion testing of spent nuclear fuel. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 263(3):575–579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Uchida S, Tagami K, Rühm W, Steiner M, Wirth E (2000) Separation of Tc-99 in soil and plant samples collected around the Chernobyl reactor using a Tc-selective chromatographic resin and determination of the nuclide by ICP-MS. Appl Radiat Isot 53(1–2):69–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. McCartney M, Rajendran K, Olive V, Busby RG, McDonald P (1999) Development of a novel method for the determination of 99Tc in environmental samples by ICP-MS. J Anal At Spectrom 14(12):1849–1852

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Beals DM (1996) Determination of technetium-99 in aqueous samples by isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 204(2):253–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Liu KT, Su CY (1993) The determination technetium-99 in low-level radioactive waste. INER-T1780. Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Longtan

    Google Scholar 

  18. Chang TM, Chen SC, Liu KT (2000) Nuclide analysis procedure for radioactive waste of solidified cement. INER-T2636. Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Longtan

    Google Scholar 

  19. Tyan YC, Wu HC, Liu KT, Tsai HI, Tsai TL, Yang MH, Wang CC, Jong SB (2010) Determination of technetium-99 in environmental samples by fow injection-ICP-MS. Chemistry (The Chinese Chemical Society, Taipei) 68(3):1–8

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge use of the services and facilities of the Department of Geology at the National Taiwan University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Division, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Longtan, Taoyuan, 32546, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    Te-Yen Su, Tsuey-Lin Tsai, Hsin-Chieh Wu & Lee-Chung Men

Authors
  1. Te-Yen Su
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tsuey-Lin Tsai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hsin-Chieh Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lee-Chung Men
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tsuey-Lin Tsai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Su, TY., Tsai, TL., Wu, HC. et al. Determination of ultratrace-levels of 99Tc in low-level radioactive waste samples using ICP-QMS. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 303, 1245–1248 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3490-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3490-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation