Standard Test Method for Uranium in Drinking Water by High-Resolution Alpha-Liquid-Scintillation Spectrometry

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers determining the total soluble uranium activity in drinking water in the range of 0.037 Bq/L (1 pCi/L) or greater by selective solvent extraction and high-resolution alpha-liquid-scintillation spectrometry. The energy resolution obtainable with this technique also allows estimation of the  238U to  234U activity ratio.
1.2 This test method was tested successfully with reagent water and drinking water. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested matrices.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 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.  For specific hazard statements, see Section 9.

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Historical
Publication Date
09-Aug-2002
Technical Committee
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ASTM D6239-02 - Standard Test Method for Uranium in Drinking Water by High-Resolution Alpha-Liquid-Scintillation Spectrometry
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 6239 – 02
Standard Test Method for
Uranium in Drinking Water by High-Resolution Alpha-Liquid-
1
Scintillation Spectrometry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6239; 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.
4
1. Scope ence, refer to other published glossaries (1)
1.1 This test method covers determining the total soluble
4. Summary of Test Method
uranium activity in drinking water in the range of 0.037 Bq/L
4.1 This test method is based on solvent extraction technol-
(1 pCi/L) or greater by selective solvent extraction and
ogy to isolate and concentrate uranium in drinking water for
high-resolution alpha-liquid-scintillation spectrometry. The en-
counting via a high-resolution alpha-liquid-scintillation spec-
ergy resolution obtainable with this technique also allows
238 234
trometer.
estimation of the Uto U activity ratio.
4.2 To determine total uranium, as well as limited isotopic
1.2 This test method was tested successfully with reagent
238 234
uranium ( U and U) by activity in drinking water, a
water and drinking water. It is the user’s responsibility to
232
200–mL acidified water sample is first spiked with Uasan
ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested
isotopic tracer, boiled briefly to remove radon, and evaporated
matrices.
until less than 50 mL remain. The solution is then made
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
approximately 0.01 M in diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
(DTPA) and the pH is adjusted to between 2.5 and 3.0. The
only.
sample is transferred to a separatory funnel and equilibrated
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
with 1.50 mL of an extractive scintillator containing a dialkyl
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
phosphoric acid extracting agent. Under these conditions only
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
uranium is quantitatively transferred to the organic phase while
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
the extraction of undesired ions is masked by the presence of
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
DTPA. Following phase separation, 1.00 mL of the organic
statements, see Section 9.
phase is sparged with dry argon gas to remove oxygen, a
2. Referenced Documents chemical quench agent, and counted on a high-resolution
alpha-liquid-scintillation spectrometer and multichannel ana-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2
lyzer (MCA).
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
2
4.3 The alpha spectrum of a sample that contains natural
D 1193 Specifications for Reagent Water
232
uranium and that is analyzed with an internal U tracer will
D 2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
2 appear similar to the spectrum in Fig. 1. An approximate
Applicable Methods of Committee D19 on Water
238
resolution of 250 keV FWHM for U (4.2 MeV) allows
D 3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Con-
238 234 232
2 resolution and analysis of the U, U, and U energy
duits
3
spectrum peaks when their activities are of the same order of
D 3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
235
magnitude. Resolution of the U (4.4 MeV) alpha peak is not
3. Terminology
possible, but its activity, which accounts for approximately
2.2 % of the total natural uranium activity, is included in the
3.1 Definitions:
238 234
total uranium activity calculated when the U and U peaks
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
238 234
are in the region of interest (ROI). When the U and U
to Terminology D 1129. For terms not included in this refer-
235
peaks are integrated separately, a portion of the U activity
238 234
will be included in the U activity and the rest in the U
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water
activity, depending on the exact ROIs selected. Likewise, if
236
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.04 on Methods of Radiochemi- 233
present, U and U will not be resolved by the spectrometer;
cal Analysis.
Current edition approved August 10, 2002. Published September 2002. Origi-
nally published as D 6239–98. Last previous edition D 6239–98a.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. The boldface numbers in parenthesis refer to the list of references at the end of
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02. the text.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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