Preparation of animal tissue samples for the determination of90Sr and actinides

A unique procedure permitting the determination of⁹⁰Sr and actinides in the same protion of sample, with good chemical yields of all analytes, is presented. Animal tissue samples containing bone are ashed, spiked with^{2 3 2}U,^{2 4 2}Pu,^{2 4 3}Am and^{8 5}Sr and solubilized. The actinides and strontium are gathered and separated by a series of coprecipitations with, cerium hydroxide and cerium fluoride. Actinide separation and determination and purification and determination of⁹⁰Sr are accomplished by a combination of several well-known procedures. The laboratory method consistently results in high chemical yields of all the analytes and overcomes interferences from phosphates and calcium.