ASTM D3084-20
(Practice)Standard Practice for Alpha-Particle Spectrometry of Water
Standard Practice for Alpha-Particle Spectrometry of Water
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Alpha-particle spectrometry can be used either as a quantitative counting technique or as a qualitative method for informing the analyst of the purity of a given sample.
5.2 The method may be used for evaporated alpha-particle sources, but the quality of the spectra obtained will be limited by the absorbing material on the planchet and the surface finish of the planchet.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the processes that are required to obtain well-resolved alpha-particle spectra from water samples and discusses associated problems. This practice is generally combined with specific chemical separations, mounting techniques, and counting instrumentation, as referenced.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D3084 − 20
Standard Practice for
1
Alpha-Particle Spectrometry of Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3084; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D7902 Terminology for Radiochemical Analyses
1.1 This practice covers the processes that are required to
3. Terminology
obtain well-resolved alpha-particle spectra from water samples
3.1 Definitions:
and discusses associated problems. This practice is generally
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
combined with specific chemical separations, mounting
Terminologies D1129, D7902, and C859. For terms not found
techniques, and counting instrumentation, as referenced.
in these terminologies, reference may be made to other
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3
published glossaries (1, 2).
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
4. Summary of Practice
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 Alpha-particle spectrometry of radionuclides in water
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
(also called alpha-particle pulse-height analysis) has been
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
carried out by several methods involving magnetic
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
spectrometers, gas counters, scintillation spectrometers,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
nuclear emulsion plates, cloud chambers, absorption
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
techniques, and solid-state counters. Gas counters, operating
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
either as an ionization chamber or in the proportional region,
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
have been widely used to identify and measure the relative
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
amounts of different alpha-emitters. However, more recently,
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
the solid-state counter has become the predominant system
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
because of its excellent resolution and compactness. Knoll (3)
extensively discusses the characteristics of both detector types.
2. Referenced Documents
4.2 Of the two gas-counting techniques, the pulsed ioniza-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
tion chamber is more widely used as it gives much better
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
resolution than does the other. This is because there is no
C1163 Practice for MountingActinides forAlpha Spectrom-
spread arising from multiplication or from imperfection of the
etry Using Neodymium Fluoride
wire such as occurs with the proportional counter.
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
4.3 The semiconductor detectors used for alpha-particle
D3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
spectrometry are similar in principle to ionization chambers.
D3865 Test Method for Plutonium in Water
The ionization of the gas by α-particles gives rise to electron-
D3972 Test Method for Isotopic Uranium in Water by
ion pairs, while in a semiconductor detector, electron-hole
Radiochemistry
pairs are produced. Subsequently, the liberated charges are
D7282 Practice for Set-up, Calibration, and Quality Control
collected by an electric field. In general, silicon detectors are
of Instruments Used for Radioactivity Measurements
usedforalpha-particlespectrometry.Thesedetectorsaren-type
base material upon which gold is evaporated or ions such as
boron are implanted, making an electrical contact. A reversed
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and
bias is applied to the detector to reduce the leakage current and
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.04 on Methods of Radiochemical
Analysis.
to create a depletion layer of free-charge carriers. This layer is
Current edition approved July 1, 2020. Published July 2020. Originally approved
thin and the leakage current is very low. Therefore, the slight
in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D3084 – 05 (2012). DOI:
interactions of photons with the detector produce no signal.
10.1520/D3084-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on T
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D3084 − 05 (Reapproved 2012) D3084 − 20
Standard Practice for
1
Alpha-Particle Spectrometry of Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3084; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers the processes that are required to obtain well-resolved alpha-particle spectra from water samples and
discusses associated problems. This practice is generally combined with specific chemical separations, mounting techniques, and
counting instrumentation, as referenced.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
C1163 Practice for Mounting Actinides for Alpha Spectrometry Using Neodymium Fluoride
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
D3865 Test Method for Plutonium in Water
D3972 Test Method for Isotopic Uranium in Water by Radiochemistry
D7282 Practice for Set-up, Calibration, and Quality Control of Instruments Used for Radioactivity Measurements
D7902 Terminology for Radiochemical Analyses
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to Terminologies D1129 and C859. For terms not found in these
3
terminologies, reference may be made to other published glossaries (1, 2). Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to Terminologies D1129, D7902, and C859. For terms not found in
3
these terminologies, reference may be made to other published glossaries (1, 2).
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 Alpha-particle spectrometry of radionuclides in water (also called alpha-particle pulse-height analysis) has been carried out
by several methods involving magnetic spectrometers, gas counters, scintillation spectrometers, nuclear emulsion plates, cloud
chambers, absorption techniques, and solid-state counters. Gas counters, operating either as an ionization chamber or in the
proportional region, have been widely used to identify and measure the relative amounts of differentα -emitters.different
alpha-emitters. However, more recently, the solid-state counter has become the predominant system because of its excellent
resolution and compactness. Knoll (3) extensively discusses the characteristics of both detector types.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.04 on Methods of Radiochemical Analysis.
Current edition approved June 1, 2012July 1, 2020. Published August 2012July 2020. Originally approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 20052012 as
D3084 – 05.D3084 – 05 (2012). DOI: 10.1520/D3084-05R12.10.1520/D3084-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’sstandard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to thea list of references at the end of this document.standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D3084 − 20
4.2 Of the two gas-counting techniques, the pulsed ionization chamber is more widely used as it gives much better resolution
than does the other. This is because there is no spread arising from multiplication or from imperfection of the wire such as occurs
with the proportional counter.
4.3 The semiconductor detectors used for alpha-particle spectr
...
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