ASTM D4107-08(2013)

Standard Test Method for Tritium in Drinking Water

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method was developed for measuring tritium in water to determine if the concentration exceeds the regulatory statutes of drinking water. This test method also is applicable for the determination of tritium concentration in water as required by technical specifications governing the operations of nuclear power facilities. With suitable counting technique, sample size, and counting time a detection limit of less than 37 Bq/L (1000 pCi/L) is attainable by liquid scintillation.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of tritium in drinking water by liquid scintillation counting of the tritium beta particle activity.  
1.2 This test method is used successfully with drinking water. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for untested water matrices.  
1.3 The tritium concentrations, which can be measured by this test method utilizing currently available liquid scintillation instruments, range from less than 0.037 Bq/mL (1 pCi/mL) to 555 Bq/mL (15 000 pCi/mL) for a 10-mL sample aliquot. Higher tritium concentrations can be measured by diluting or using smaller sample aliquots, or both.  
1.4 The maximum contaminant level for tritium in drinking water as given by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NIPDWR) is 0.740 Bq/mL (20 pCi/mL). The NIPDWR lists a required detection limit for tritium in drinking water of 0.037 Bq/mL (1 pCi/mL), meaning that drinking water supplies, where required, should be monitored for tritium at a sensitivity of 0.037 Bq/mL (1 pCi/mL). In Appendix X1, Eq X1.3 is given for determining the necessary counting time to meet the required sensitivity for drinking water monitoring.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 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: 14-Jun-2013
• 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 D4107-08 - Standard Test Method for Tritium in Drinking Water
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2013

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: D4107 − 08 (Reapproved 2013)
Standard Test Method for
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Tritium in Drinking Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4107; 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 2. Referenced Documents
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method covers the determination of tritium in
D1129Terminology Relating to Water
drinking water by liquid scintillation counting of the tritium
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
beta particle activity.
D2777Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
1.2 This test method is used successfully with drinking
Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
water.Itistheuser’sresponsibilitytoensurethevalidityofthis
D3370Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
test method for untested water matrices.
D3648Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
1.3 The tritium concentrations, which can be measured by
3. Terminology
thistestmethodutilizingcurrentlyavailableliquidscintillation
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
instruments, range from less than 0.037 Bq/mL (1 pCi/mL) to
method, refer to Terminology D1129. For terms not defined in
555 Bq/mL (15000 pCi/mL) for a 10-mL sample aliquot.
this test method or in Terminology D1129, reference may be
Higher tritium concentrations can be measured by diluting or
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made to other published glossaries.
using smaller sample aliquots, or both.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.4 The maximum contaminant level for tritium in drinking
water as given by the United States Environmental Protection
4.1 In this test method, a 100-mL drinking water sample
Agency (U.S. EPA) National Interim Primary Drinking Water
aliquotistreatedwithasmallamountofsodiumhydroxideand
Regulations (NIPDWR) is 0.740 Bq/mL (20 pCi/mL). The
potassium permanganate, distilled, and a specified fraction of
NIPDWRlistsarequireddetectionlimitfortritiumindrinking
the distillate is collected for tritium analysis. The alkaline
waterof0.037Bq/mL(1pCi/mL),meaningthatdrinkingwater
treatmentistopreventotherradionuclides,suchasradioiodine
supplies, where required, should be monitored for tritium at a
and radiocarbon from distilling over with the tritium. Some
sensitivity of 0.037 Bq/mL (1 pCi/mL). In Appendix X1, Eq
drinking water supplies will contain trace quantities of organic
X1.3 is given for determining the necessary counting time to
compounds, especially surface water sources that contain fish
meet the required sensitivity for drinking water monitoring.
and other life. The permanganate treatment is to oxidize trace
organics in the sample aliquots which could distill over and
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
cause quenching interferences.Amiddle fraction of the distil-
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
late is collected for tritium analysis because the early and late
standard.
fractions are more apt to contain interfering materials for the
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
liquid scintillation counting process.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.2 As the sample distills, there is a gradient in the tritium
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
concentration in the accumulating distillate due to isotope
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
effects; therefore, it is important to collect the same fraction of
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
the distillate for all samples and standards for tritium analysis.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
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This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D19 on Water contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD19.04onMethodsofRadiochemi- Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
cal Analysis. the ASTM website.
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Current edition approved June 15, 2013. Published July 2013. Originally American National Glossary of Terms in Nuclear Science and Technology,
approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D4107–08. DOI: available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th
10.1520/D4107-08R13. Floor, New York, NY 10036, www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D4107 − 08 (2013)
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