Direct method for Ra-226 analysis in water samples using ICP-QQQ-MS

Coha, Ivana; Štrok, Marko; Kavasi, Norbert (2026) Direct method for Ra-226 analysis in water samples using ICP-QQQ-MS. Scientific Reports, 16 . ISSN 2045-2322

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Abstract

The paper describes a method of determination of Ra-226 in natural water using ICP-QQQ-MS, Agilent 8900, that enables an efficient direct determination of Ra-226 with high sensitivity without using any reaction gas and separation procedures for interference removal. The matrix effect, together with the instability of the sensitivity are controlled by spiking the sample with Ra-226. The method is simple and fast with a detection limit around of 0.1 fg g-1 (3.6 mBq kg-1), which is tenfold lower than required by the EU Directive for water consumption (40 mBq kg-1) and five times better than results obtained from alternative direct method for routine analysis described in the literature. The method can easily be implemented for routine analysis Ra-226 which was demonstrated by direct determination of Ra-226 in IAEA proficiency test water sample. This is the first time that the accuracy (trueness and precision) of a mass spectrometry method for the direct determination of Ra-226 has been tested and confirmed in an independent proficiency test.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Ra-226; Water sample; Mass spectrometry; Standard addition; IAEA proficiency test
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Chemistry > Analytic Chemistry NATURAL SCIENCES > Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Odlazna mobilnost viših asistenata Ivana Coha MOBODL-2023-08-3540 HRZZ
Depositing User:	Ema Buhin Šaler
Date Deposited:	02 Feb 2026 10:16
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/11206
DOI:	10.1038/s41598-025-18775-4

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