The applicability of the radiotracer "foil" method for the study of accumulation processes occurring on compact stainless steel electrodes is analyzed in the case of the application of tracers emitting beta-particles. As adsorbent a properly thinned austenitic stainless steel disc is considered. A derailed radiochemical study including the energy analysis of beta-radiation incident upon the detector is carried out in order to find the best detection conditions and to get a clear picture about the components of the radiation measured. On the basis of this analysis a new evaluation method of the experimental data is proposed. Results on phosphate accumulation on an austenitic stainless steel are presented to demonstrate the potentiality of the method.