Novel tandem column method for the rapid isolation of radiostrontium from human urine

A method has been developed for the isolation of strontium from human urine for subsequent determination in sample volumes as low as 5-20 mL. This method involves the acidification of the sample using methanesulfonic acid and its decolorization using charcoal, treatment of the filtrate with Diphonix (R) resin, and subsequent concentration of strontium on Sr resin. Data from retention model simulations provided the initial conditions which were then optimized by actual column separations. Diphonix (R) resin was shown to be effective at removing alkali metal ions from the urine matrix under conditions that retain higher valence ions. The suggested processing method provides 99% recovery of Sr2+, a concentration factor of 50, and an expected per sample processing time of less than 1 h. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.