Determination of technetium in sea-water using ion exchange and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with ultrasonic nebulisation

An enrichment-separation scheme employing a strong-base type anion-exchange resin was developed for the determination of Tc-99 in sea-water by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry utilising ultrasonic nebulisation with membrane desolvation, Samples were processed through an anion-exchange column to enrich Te and to eliminate sea-water matrix ions. The limit of detection for Tc-99 in sea-water based on processing a IJ mi sample was 0.03 ng l(-1). Accuracy was verified with spike recovery experiments. The potential for rapid on-line sample processing ria a microcolumn-flow injection system was demonstrated.