title: Determination of technetium-99 using electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS) and NH4OH as chemical modifier.
abstract: In recent years, developments in ICP-MS have led to improved methods for determination of long-lived radionuclides. This paper reports the use of NH(4)OH as a matrix modifier and ETV sample introduction for the determination of technetium-99 ((99)Tc) in a variety of environmental and biological samples, using Re as carrier and (99m)Tc as yield monitor in the chemical separation method. Addition of an excess of NH(4)OH led to a stable (99)Tc signal, reduced memory effect, better reproducibility and reduced detection limits. Following radiochemical separation of (99)Tc from the sample matrix, detection limits in the order of a few microBq have been achieved. ETV has also proved applicable for rapid, direct analysis of a number of environmental samples having relatively high concentrations of (99)Tc (sediment extracts and river water close to nuclear installations). However, in this case, control of matrix effects (signal reduction and enhancement) using standard additions is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Fougnerbakken 1-3, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Aas, Norway. lindis.skipperud@umb.no
authors.forename: Lindis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Skipperud
authors.forename: Deborah H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Oughton
authors.forename: Lise Støwer
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rosten
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wharton
authors.forename: J Philip
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D064753:Ammonium Hydroxide; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013667:Technetium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006878:Hydroxides; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D064753:Ammonium Hydroxide; D013667:Technetium