Systematic evaluation of a strontium-specific extraction chromatographic resin for obtaining a purified Sr fraction with quantitative recovery from complex and Ca-rich matrices

Abstract

This paper presents a systematic evaluation of a commercially available strontium-specific extraction chromatographic resin based on a crown ether (Sr specÔ), for use in applications of Sr isotope ratio analysis dealing with samples displaying a complex and/or Ca-rich matrix composition. A protocol, consisting of (i) loading a sample digest in 7 M HNO 3 onto the resin, (ii) rinsing the resin with 7 M HNO 3 to remove concomitant matrix elements and (iii) rinsing the resin with 0.05 M HNO 3 to strip off the purified Sr fraction, was found to provide the best results. The performance in terms of (i) the purity of the Sr fraction obtained, (ii) the efficiency of Rb/Sr and Ca/Sr separation, (iii) the Sr recovery from samples with a complex and Ca-rich matrix composition and (iv) the Sr isotope ratios obtained using multi-collector ICP-MS, was evaluated for various amounts (250, 500, 750 and 2000 mL) of resin using digests of bone and soil certified reference materials, dental tissues, fluorite and glass samples. Further, it was investigated whether or not the isolation protocol introduces Sr isotopic fractionation. Also the possibility of regenerating the resin after use, allowing multiple use of the resin, was assessed. Finally, the Sr isotopic composition of 2 bone (NIST SRM 1400 Bone Ash and NIST SRM 1486 Bone Meal) and 2 soil (BCR CRM 141 Calcareous Loam Soil and BCR CRM 142 Light Sandy Soil) certified reference materials was determined. The method was shown to be fit-for-purpose for population migration studies and provenancing of archaeological artefacts, and is expected to be suited for a broad range of Sr isotope ratio applications.

Geobody architecture, genesis and petrophysical characteristics of the Budakalász travertines, Buda Hills (Hungary)

“…The 87 Rb/ 86 Sr ratios were calculated 204 following the procedures described by Vanhaecke et al (1999). 205 Sr was subsequently isolated from the sample matrix using a Sr-selective resin (Sr spec™), following 206 the extraction chromatography procedure described in detail by De Muynck et al (2009). Sr isotopic 207 measurements were performed using a Thermo Scientific Neptune MC-ICP-MS instrument.…”

From volcanic rock powder to Sr and Pb isotope ratios: a fit-for-purpose procedure for multi-collector ICP–mass spectrometric analysis

“…Sr isolation the protocol developed by De Muynck et al 12 was largely followed. The procedure for Pb isolation was based on the method from Deniel and Pin 17 , focusing on whether omitting and/or reducing cleaning steps could reduce laboratory time and costs, without compromising accuracy and precision of the data.…”

“…De Muynck et al 12 already reported that no Sr isotopic fractionation occurs during the Sr isolation process using Sr spec TM resin. To assess potential isotopic fractionation of Pb during the isolation process and to obtain the elution profile of the Pb fraction, the 4 mL of 8 M HCl were collected in 10 aliquots of 400 µL each (see Table 1), that were afterwards analysed for their Pb concentration and Pb isotopic composition.…”

“…9 High-precision isotope ratio determination via either TIMS or MC-ICP-MS requires quantitative isolation of the target element from its matrix prior to isotope ratio measurement. Common isolation techniques for Sr include the use of AG50WX8 ion exchange resin 10,11 or extraction chromatographic Sr spec TM resin 12 , which can also be used for Pb isolation 13 . Other commonly applied Pb separation methods involve the use of extraction chromatographic Pb spec TM resin 14,15 or AG1X8 ion exchange resin 16 .…”

The quest for the soldier’s rest: combining anthropological and archaeochemical approaches to study social and occupational diversity in the medieval graveyard of San Andrés de Arroyo (Palencia, Spain)

“…Approximately 0.2 g of bone powder was transferred to PTFE vessels and digested in 5 ml of subboiled HNO 3 and 3 ml of Suprapur H 2 O 2 30% using an Ethos 1 Milestone microwave oven. Subsequently, the isolation of strontium was performed with a strontium-specific extraction chromatographic resin following the protocol described by De Muynck et al (2009). Finally, strontium isotope ratio measurements were carried out via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using a multicollector instrument housed at the University of Oviedo (Thermo Electron Corporation …”