ASTM D4107-98

Standard Test Method for Tritium in Drinking Water

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of tritium in drinking water (as T2O or HTO) by liquid scintillation counting of the tritium beta particle activity.
1.2 This test method was used successfully with drinking water. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested 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.
1.4 The maximum contaminant level for tritium in drinking water as given by the National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NIPDWR) is 0.740 Bq/mL (20000 pCi/L). 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 X1.2 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 problems, 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: 09-Mar-1998
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.04 - Methods of Radiochemical Analysis

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D4107-98(2002)e1 - Standard Test Method for Tritium in Drinking Water
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1998

Standards Content (Sample)

Designation: D 4107 – 98
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Test Method for
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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. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
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1. Scope D 3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
1.1 This test method covers the determination of tritium in
3. Terminology
drinking water (as T O or HTO) by liquid scintillation counting
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3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
of the tritium beta particle activity.
method, refer to Terminology D 1129. For terms not defined in
1.2 This test method is used successfully with drinking
this test method or in Terminology D 1129, reference may be
water. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this
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made to other published glossaries.
test method for waters of untested matrices.
1.3 The tritium concentrations, which can be measured by
4. Summary of Test Method
this test method utilizing currently available liquid scintillation
4.1 In this test method, a 100-mL drinking water sample
instruments, range from less than 0.037 Bq/mL (1 pCi/mL) to
aliquot is treated with a small amount of sodium hydroxide and
555 Bq/mL (15 000 pCi/mL) for a 10-mL sample aliquot.
potassium permanganate, distilled, and a specified fraction of
Higher tritium concentrations can be measured by diluting or
the distillate is collected for tritium analysis. The alkaline
using smaller sample aliquots, or both.
treatment is to prevent other radionuclides, such as radioiodine
1.4 The maximum contaminant level for tritium in drinking
and radiocarbon from distilling over with the tritium. Some
water as given by the National Interim Primary Drinking Water
drinking water supplies will contain trace quantities of organic
Regulations (NIPDWR) is 0.740 Bq/mL (20 000 pCi/L). The
compounds, especially surface water sources that contain fish
NIPDWR lists a required detection limit for tritium in drinking
and other life. The permanganate treatment is to oxidize trace
water of 0.037 Bq/mL (1 pCi/mL), meaning that drinking water
organics in the sample aliquots which could distill over and
supplies, where required, should be monitored for tritium at a
cause quenching interferences. A middle fraction of the distil-
sensitivity of 0.037 Bq/mL (1 pCi/mL). In Appendix X1, Eq
late is collected for tritium analysis because the early and late
X1.3 is given for determining the necessary counting time to
fractions are more apt to contain interfering materials for the
meet the required sensitivity for drinking water monitoring.
liquid scintillation counting process.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.2 As the sample distills, there is a gradient in the tritium
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
concentration in the accumulating distillate; therefore, it is
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
important to collect the same fraction of the distillate for all
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
samples and standards for tritium analysis.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.3 The collected distillate fraction is thoroughly mixed and
a portion (up to 10 mL) is mixed with liquid scintillator
2. Referenced Documents
solution, and after dark adapting, is counted in the liquid
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 scintillation counting system for tritium beta particle activity.
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
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D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
5. Significance and Use
D 2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
5.1 This test method was developed for measuring tritium in
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Applicable Methods of Committee D-19 on Water
water to determine if the concentration exceeds the regulatory
D 3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Con-
statutes of drinking water. This test method also is applicable
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duits
for the determination of tritium concentration in water as
required by technical specifications governing the operations of
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nuclear power facilities. With suitable counting technique,
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-19 on Water
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.04 on Methods of Radiochemi-
cal Analysis.
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Current edition approved March 10, 1998. Published December 1998. Originally
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02.
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published as D 4107 – 91. Last previous edition D 4107–91.
American National Glossary of Terms in Nuclear Science and Technology,
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
ANSI, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
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