ASTM C1310-01

Standard Test Method for Determining Radionuclides in Soils by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Using Flow Injection Preconcentration

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for measuring  99Tc and a procedure for measuring  230Th and  234U in soils. It is applicable to background soils and soils that have been contaminated by nuclear processes. It is intended as an alternative to radiochemical methods because it is faster, requires less labor, and produces less waste than many radiochemical methods.
1.2 Samples are dried, ground, dissolved by fusion, and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A sequential flow injection (FI) technique is used to provide lower detection limits than those obtained with direct aspiration into an ICP-MS, and, in the case of  99Tc, provides separation from interferences.
1.3 The  230Th and  234U procedure also would work for  232Th,  235U, and  238U, but the FI preconcentration usually is not required to measure these isotopes at the concentrations typically found in soils.
1.4 This test method is guided by quality control procedures derived from U.S. EPA procedures for inorganic analysis reported in SW-846 and the Contract Laboratory Program Statement of Work. The required level of quality control may vary between laboratories and projects. Laboratory statistical quality control procedures are required to ensure that this test method is reliable.
1.5 Becquerel (Bq) is the acceptable metric unit for radionuclide activity. However, picocurie (pCi) frequently is the unit used to express regulatory limits for radioactivity. The values stated in either of these units shall be regarded as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other, without combining values in any way.
1.6 Refer to Practice C998 for information on soil sample collection.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jun-2001
• ICS: 13.030.30 - Special wastes
• ICS: 17.240 - Radiation measurements
• Technical Committee: C26 - Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• Drafting Committee: C26.05 - Methods of Test

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C1310-95(2001) - Standard Test Method for Determining Radionuclides in Soils by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Using Flow Injection Preconcentration
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2001
• Replaced By: ASTM C1310-01(2007) - Standard Test Method for Determining Radionuclides in Soils by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Using Flow Injection Preconcentration (Withdrawn 2011)
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2007

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: C 1310 – 01
Standard Test Method for
Determining Radionuclides in Soils by Inductively Coupled
Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Using Flow Injection
1
Preconcentration
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1310; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.6 Refer to Practice C 998 for information on soil sample
99
collection.
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for measuring Tc
230 234
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
and a procedure for measuring Th and U in soils. It is
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
applicable to background soils and soils that have been
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
contaminated by nuclear processes. It is intended as an
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
alternative to radiochemical methods because it is faster,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
requires less labor, and produces less waste than many radio-
chemical methods.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2 Samples are dried, ground, dissolved by fusion, and
2.1 ASTM Standards:
analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
C 998 Practice for Sampling Surface Soil for Radionu-
(ICP-MS).Asequential flow injection (FI) technique is used to
4
clides
provide lower detection limits than those obtained with direct
99
C 1215 Guide for Preparing and Interpreting Precision and
aspiration into an ICP-MS, and, in the case of Tc, provides
Bias Statements in Test Method Standards Used in the
separation from interferences.
4
230 234
Nuclear Industry
1.3 The Th and U procedure also would work for
5
235 238
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
232Th, U,and U,buttheFIpreconcentrationusuallyisnot
E 11 Specification for Wire-Cloth Sieves for Testing Pur-
required to measure these isotopes at the concentrations
6
poses
typically found in soils.
E 135 Terminology Relating to Analytical Chemistry for
1.4 This test method is guided by quality control procedures
7
Metals, Ores, and Related Materials
derived from U.S. EPA procedures for inorganic analysis
2 2.2 U.S. EPA Standards:
reported in SW-846 and the Contract Laboratory Program
2
3 SW-846, Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste
Statement of Work . The required level of quality control may
U.S. EPA Contract Laboratory Program Statement of Work
vary between laboratories and projects. Laboratory statistical
3
for Inorganic Analysis
quality control procedures are required to ensure that this test
method is reliable.
3. Terminology
1.5 Becquerel (Bq) is the acceptable metric unit for radio-
3.1 Definition:
nuclideactivity.However,picocurie(pCi)frequentlyistheunit
3.1.1 calibration—refer to Terminology E 135.
used to express regulatory limits for radioactivity. The values
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
stated in either of these units shall be regarded as standard.The
3.2.1 abundance sensitivity—the characteristic of a mass
values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents;
spectrometer specifying the likelihood of a large peak produc-
therefore,eachsystemmustbeusedindependentlyoftheother,
ing counts at an adjacent mass. It usually is expressed as the
without combining values in any way.
number of counts required in the large peak to produce one
count at an adjacent mass.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear
3.2.2 analyte—an isotope whose concentration is being
Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.05 on Methods of
determined by the test method.
Test.
Current edition approved June 10, 2001. Published October 2001. Originally
published as E 1310–95 (Reapproved 2001).
2 4
Third edition, revision 1, 1992. Available from the U.S. Government Printing Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.01.
5
Office, Washington, DC 20402. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
3 6
Document Number ILM01.0. Available from the CLP Sample Management Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
7
Office, P.O. Box 818, Alexandria, VA 22313. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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C1310–01
3.2.3 calibration blank—a solution used to establish the 3.2.19 relative standard deviation (RSD)—is expressed in
zero-concentration calibration point. this standard as a percentage, and is calculated by multiplying
by 100 the standard deviation of a data set divided by the mean
3.2.4 calibration reference sol
...