ASTM D4107-08
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Tritium in Drinking Water
Standard Test Method for Tritium in Drinking Water
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
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 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
Relations
Buy Standard
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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
StandardTest Method for
1
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 D2777Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
1.1 This test method covers the determination of tritium in
D3370Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
drinking water by liquid scintillation counting of the tritium
D3648Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
beta particle activity.
1.2 This test method is used successfully with drinking
3. Terminology
water.Itistheuser’sresponsibilitytoensurethevalidityofthis
3.1 Definitions— For definitions of terms used in this test
test method for untested water matrices.
method, refer to Terminology D1129. For terms not defined in
1.3 The tritium concentrations, which can be measured by
this test method or in Terminology D1129, reference may be
3
thistestmethodutilizingcurrentlyavailableliquidscintillation
made to other published glossaries.
instruments, range from less than 0.037 Bq/mL (1 pCi/mL) to
4. Summary of Test Method
555 Bq/mL (15000 pCi/mL) for a 10-mL sample aliquot.
Higher tritium concentrations can be measured by diluting or
4.1 In this test method, a 100-mL drinking water sample
using smaller sample aliquots, or both.
aliquotistreatedwithasmallamountofsodiumhydroxideand
potassium permanganate, distilled, and a specified fraction of
1.4 The maximum contaminant level for tritium in drinking
the distillate is collected for tritium analysis. The alkaline
water as given by the United States Environmental Protection
treatmentistopreventotherradionuclides,suchasradioiodine
Agency (U.S. EPA) National Interim Primary Drinking Water
and radiocarbon from distilling over with the tritium. Some
Regulations (NIPDWR) is 0.740 Bq/mL (20 pCi/mL). The
drinking water supplies will contain trace quantities of organic
NIPDWRlistsarequireddetectionlimitfortritiumindrinking
compounds, especially surface water sources that contain fish
waterof0.037Bq/mL(1pCi/mL),meaningthatdrinkingwater
and other life. The permanganate treatment is to oxidize trace
supplies, where required, should be monitored for tritium at a
organics in the sample aliquots which could distill over and
sensitivity of 0.037 Bq/mL (1 pCi/mL). In Appendix X1, Eq
cause quenching interferences.Amiddle fraction of the distil-
X1.3 is given for determining the necessary counting time to
late is collected for tritium analysis because the early and late
meet the required sensitivity for drinking water monitoring.
fractions are more apt to contain interfering materials for the
1.5 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
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.2 As the sample distills, there is a gradient in the tritium
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- concentration in the accumulating distillate due to isotope
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. effects; therefore, it is important to collect the same fraction of
the distillate for all samples and standards for tritium analysis.
2. Referenced Documents
4.3 Thecollecteddistillatefractionisthoroughlymixedand
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
a portion (up to 10 mL) is mixed with liquid scintillator
D1129Terminology Relating to Water
solution, and after dark adapting, is counted in the liquid
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
scintillation counting system for tritium beta particle activity.
5. Significance and Use
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D19 on Water
andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD19.04onMethodsofRadiochemi-
5.1 Thistestmethodwasdevelopedformeasuringtritiumin
cal Analysis.
water to determine if the concentration exceeds the regulatory
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2008. Published February 2008. Originally
ϵ1 statutes of drinking water. This test method also is applicable
approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D4107–98 (2002) .
DOI: 10.1520/D4107-08.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
3
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM American National Glossary of Terms in Nuclear Science and Technology,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th
the ASTM website. Floor, New York, NY 10036, www.
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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.
e1
Designation:D 4107–98 (Reapproved 2002) Designation:D 4107–08
Standard Test Method for
1
Tritium in Drinking Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4107; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
e NOTE—Sections 1.4, 10.1.1, 10.1.2, and 12.3.1 were editorially updated in July 2002.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of tritium in drinking water (as T O or HTO) by liquid scintillation counting of
2
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 waters of 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 (15000 pCi/mL) for a 10-mL sample aliquot. Higher
tritium concentrations can be measured by diluting or using smaller sample aliquots, or both.
1.4The1.4 The maximum contaminant level for tritium in drinking water as given by the United States Environmental
ProtectionAgency(U.S.EPA)NationalInterimPrimaryDrinkingWaterRegulations(NIPDWR)is0.740Bq/mL(20pCi/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). InAppendix X1, Eq X1.3
is given for determining the necessary counting time to meet the required sensitivity for drinking water monitoring.
1.5 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
D3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions— For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology D1129. For terms not defined in this
3
test method or in Terminology D1129, reference may be made to other published glossaries.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 In this test method, a 100-mL drinking water sample aliquot is treated with a small amount of sodium hydroxide and
potassium permanganate, distilled, and a specified fraction of the distillate is collected for tritium analysis.The alkaline treatment
is to prevent other radionuclides, such as radioiodine and radiocarbon from distilling over with the tritium. Some drinking water
supplies will contain trace quantities of organic compounds, especially surface water sources that contain fish and other life. The
permanganate treatment is to oxidize trace organics in the sample aliquots which could distill over and cause quenching
interferences.Amiddle fraction of the distillate is collected for tritium analysis because the early and late fractions are more apt
to contain interfering materials for the liquid scintillation counting process.
1
This test method 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 March 10, 1998. Published December 1998. Originally published as D4107–91. Last previous edition D 4107–98.
e1
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2008. Published February 2008. Originally approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D4107–98 (2002) .
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,orcontactASTMCustomerServiceatservice@astm.org.For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol 11.01.volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02.American National Glossary of Terms in Nuclear Science and Technology, available from American National Standards
Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive,
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.