Technetium-99 (99Tc) is a challenging radionuclide from presents many problems related to safe disposal. The measurement of 99Tc is of particular interest due to its high mobility, and the fact that it is a beta-emitter with a long half-life (t1/2=2.13×105 years) with long-term radiological effects[1]. As an isotopes of 99Tc, 99mTc has been widely applied for medical diagnosis and medical research. It is reported that the 99mTc has been used in 80% of diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures and almost 30 million examinations are conducted worldwide using this isotope. Because 99mTc has a short half-life of 6 h and decays to 99Tc, monitoring and safe disposal of 99Tc from human urine is very important, and concern is increasing every day as global use of 99mTc has increased by more than 4.5×1014 Bq per week and is increasing continuously[2]. However, the current methods for the detection of this radionuclide in such mdium are time consuming and can not satisfy for the low level urine sample analysis. In this work, a method for rapid determination of 99Tc in urine samples was developed. The sample was firstly pre-treated with K2S2O8 to decompose the organic matters combined with 99Tc in 0.5 mol·L−1 HNO3 medium at 100°C. Then the sample solution was loaded to a TEVA column (2 mL) for 99Tc separation and purification. The target element was finally measured by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICPMS). The developed analytical method was proved to be reliable and can be used to rapid determine low-level 99Tc in urine samples.

• Keliang Shi(Radiochemistry Lab, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui SRd, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China) Corresponding author
• Xuejie Sun(Radiochemistry Lab, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui SRd, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China)
• Man Wang(Radiochemistry Lab, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui SRd, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China)
• Xiaolin Hou(Radiochemistry Lab, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui SRd, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China, Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roslcide, Denmark)