Scintillating iron imprinted polymers (Sc-Fe-IIP): Novel material for 55 Fe selective recognition

Abstract

In the coming years, numerous nuclear power plants are expected to reach the end of their operational lifespans, leading to a substantial increase in the demand for analyses during the decommissioning process. Of particular concern is 55Fe, a fission product originating from neutron activation of stable iron. The conventional methods for determining 55Fe using liquid scintillation are known for being time-consuming, complex, and involving multiple steps to eliminate interferences. In this work, the first scintillating imprinted polymer for 55Fe has been developed (Sc-Fe-IIP). Several tests have been conducted to define the polymerization procedure, the components of the polymer, and their proportions, making it possible to combine selective retention and scintillation capabilities for 55Fe determination in one material. The optimum Sc-Fe-IIP is composed of styrene, divinylbenzene, and vinyl phosphonic acid, together with a complex of Fe with acrylic acid and scintillation fluorescence solutes. The iron capacity is up to 17 mg per gram of Sc-Fe-IIP, and the selectivity is 95 %, with reduced retention of copper (4 %) and no retention of nickel or cobalt. Regarding scintillation capabilities, the Sc-Fe-IIP showed a detection efficiency of 4.90 %.