Determination of90Sr in soil and sediment using lithium-borate fusion and extraction chromatography

A rapid and reliable method for determination of⁹⁰Sr in soil and sediment has been developed. The method is based on lithium-borate fusion and extraction chromatography with a Sr-resin. The samples can be dissolved and separated for Sr in approximately 5 hours of which the fusion and dissolution requires 20 minutes. The method has been applied to four reference materials, two soils and two sediments, and the results agree well with the recommended values. The mean recovery of Sr was 71%.