ASTM D3454-05

Standard Test Method for Radium-226 in Water

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The most prevalent of the five radium isotopes in ground water, having a half life greater than one day, are 226Ra and 228Ra. These two isotopes also present the greatest health risk compared to the other naturally occurring nuclides of equal concentrations if ingested via the water pathway.
Although primarily utilized on a water medium, this technique may be applicable for the measurement of the 226Ra content of any media once the medium has been completely decomposed and put into an aqueous solution.
The general methodology and basis of this technique are similar to the methodology “226Ra in Drinking Water (Radon Emanation Technique)” as described in the document EPA-600//4-80-032.5
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of soluble, suspended, and total radium-226 in water in concentrations above 3.7 10 3 Bq/L. This test method is not applicable to the measurement of other radium isotopes.
1.2 This test method may be used for quantitative measurements by calibrating with a radium-226 standard, or for relative measurements by comparing the measurements made with each other.
1.3 This test method does not meet the current requirements of Practice D 2777.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is very hazardous and should be used in a well-ventilated hood. Wear rubber gloves, safety glasses or goggles, and a laboratory coat. Avoid breathing any HF fumes. Clean up all spills promptly and wash thoroughly after using HF.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the other 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: 31-Jan-2005
• ICS: 13.060.50 - Examination of water for chemical substances
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.04 - Methods of Radiochemical Analysis

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D3454-97 - Standard Test Method for Radium-226 in Water
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Replaced By: ASTM D3454-11 - Standard Test Method for Radium-226 in Water
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2011

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:D3454–05
Standard Test Method for
1
Radium-226 in Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3454; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications
for Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of soluble,
suspended, and total radium-226 in water in concentrations
3. Terminology
−3
above 3.7 310 Bq/L. This test method is not applicable to
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
the measurement of other radium isotopes.
method, refer to Terminology D1129, and to other published
1.2 This test method may be used for quantitative measure-
3
glossaries.
mentsbycalibratingwitharadium-226standard,orforrelative
measurements by comparing the measurements made with
4. Summary of Test Method
each other.
4
4.1 This test method is based on the emanation and
1.3 Thistestmethoddoesnotmeetthecurrentrequirements
222
scintillation counting of Rn, a gaseous daughter product
of Practice D2777.
226
of Ra, from a solution.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
226
4.2 Ra is collected from water by coprecipitation on a
standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for
relatively large amount of barium sulfate. The barium-radium
information only.
sulfateisdecomposedbyfumingwithphosphoricacid,andthe
1.5 Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is very hazardous and should be
resulting glassy melt is dissolved by evaporation with dilute
used in a well-ventilated hood. Wear rubber gloves, safety
hydrochloric acid to form soluble barium-radium phosphates
glasses or goggles, and a laboratory coat.Avoid breathing any
and chlorides. These salts are dissolved and the solution is
HF fumes. Clean up all spills promptly and wash thoroughly
222
stored for ingrowth of Rn.After a suitable ingrowth period,
after using HF.
theradongasisremovedfromthesolutionbypurgingwithgas
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
and transferred to a scintillation counting chamber. About 4 h
other safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
222
after Rn collection, the scintillation chamber is counted for
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
226
alpha activity. The Ra concentration is calculated from the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
222
alpha count rate of Rn and its immediate daughters. The
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
226
radioactive decay characteristics of Ra and its immediate
2. Referenced Documents decay progeny are listed in Table 1.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5. Significance and Use
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
5.1 Themostprevalentofthefiveradiumisotopesinground
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
226
water, having a half life greater than one day, are Ra
D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
228
and Ra. These two isotopes also present the greatest health
Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
riskcomparedtotheothernaturallyoccurringnuclidesofequal
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
concentrations if ingested via the water pathway.
D3649 Practice for High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Spec-
5.2 Although primarily utilized on a water medium, this
trometry of Water
226
technique may be applicable for the measurement of the Ra
content of any media once the medium has been completely
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water decomposed and put into an aqueous solution.
andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD19.04onMethodsofRadiochemi-
cal Analysis.
3
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2005. Published February 2005. Originally American National Standard Glossary of Terms in Nuclear Science and
approved in 1975. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as D3454–97. DOI: Technology, N1.1-1967.
4
10.1520/D3454-05. This test method is based on a previously published method by Rushing, D.E.,
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Garcia, W.J., and Clark, D.A. “The Analysis of Effluents and Environmental
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Samples from Uranium Mills and of Biological Samples for Radium, Polonium and
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Uranium,” Radiological Health and Safety in Mining and Milling of Nuclear
the ASTM website. Materials, Vol. II, IAEA, Vienna, Austria, 1964), p. 187.
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