Specific activity and isotope abundances of strontium in purified strontium-82

A linear accelerator was used to irradiate a rubidium chloride target with protons to produce strontium-82 (Sr-82), and the Sr-82 was purified by ion exchange chromatography. The amount of strontium associated with the purified Sr-82 was determined by either: ICP-OES or method B which consisted of a summation of strontium quantified by gamma spectroscopy and ICP-MS. The summation method agreed within 10% to the ICP-OES for the total mass of strontium and the subsequent specific activities were determined to be 0.25-0.52 TBq mg(-1). Method B was used to determine the isotope abundances by weight% of the purified Sr-82, and the abundances were: Sr-82 (10-20.7%), Sr-83 (0-0.05%), Sr-84 (35-48.5%), Sr-85 (16-25%), Sr-86 (12.5-23%), Sr-87 (0%), and Sr-88 (0-10%). The purified strontium contained mass amounts of Sr-82, Sr-84, Sr-85, Sr-86, and Sr-88 in abundances not associated with natural abundance, and 90% of the strontium was produced by the proton irradiation. A comparison of ICP-OES and method B for the analysis of Sr-82 indicated analysis by ICP-OES would be easier to determine total mass of strontium and comply with regulatory requirements. An ICP-OES analytical method for Sr-82 analysis was established and validated according to regulatory guidelines.