Beta-ray counting flow cell for determination of strontium concentration in the environment

In nuclear power plants, radioactivity in environmental samples such as marine products and cereals must be analyzed periodically. Determination of radioactive strontium (/sup 89/Sr and /sup 90/Sr) concentration is one of the most important items in these analyses. Since radioactive strontium emits only beta-rays, the sample strontium must be separated from other nuclides which can obstruct the measurements. The procedure for the sample preparation, including the separation, is complicated and requires operator skill. The purpose of the work described is development of a flow-cell-type beta-ray detector for liquid samples which is convenient for the construction of a through process of the automatic analysis.