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.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
09-Aug-1998
Technical Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

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ASTM D6239-98a - Standard Test Method for Uranium in Drinking Water by High-Resolution Alpha-Liquid-Scintillation Spectrometry
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Designation: D 6239 – 98a
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
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.
1. Scope 4. Summary of Test Method
1.1 This test method covers determining the total soluble 4.1 This test method is based on solvent extraction technol-
uranium activity in drinking water in the range of 0.037 Bq/L ogy to isolate and concentrate uranium in drinking water for
(1 pCi/L) or greater by selective solvent extraction and counting via a high-resolution alpha-liquid-scintillation spec-
high-resolution alpha-liquid-scintillation spectrometry. The en- trometer.
ergy resolution obtainable with this technique also allows 4.2 To determine total uranium, as well as limited isotopic
238 234 238 234
estimation of the Uto U activity ratio. uranium ( U and U) by activity in drinking water, a
232
1.2 This test method was tested successfully with reagent 200–mL acidified water sample is first spiked with Uasan
water and drinking water. It is the user’s responsibility to isotopic tracer, boiled briefly to remove radon, and evaporated
ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested until less than 50 mL remain. The solution is then made
matrices. approximately 0.01 M in diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as (DTPA) and the pH is adjusted to between 2.5 and 3.0. The
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information sample is transferred to a separatory funnel and equilibrated
only. with 1.50 mL of an extractive scintillator containing a dialkyl
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the phosphoric acid extracting agent. Under these conditions only
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the uranium is quantitatively transferred to the organic phase while
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- the extraction of undesired ions is masked by the presence of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- DTPA. Following phase separation, 1.00 mL of the organic
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard phase is sparged with dry argon gas to remove oxygen, a
statements, see Section 9. chemical quench agent, and counted on a high-resolution
alpha-liquid-scintillation spectrometer and multichannel ana-
2. Referenced Documents
lyzer (MCA).
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.3 The alpha spectrum of a sample that contains natural
2 232
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water uranium and that is analyzed with an internal U tracer will
2
D 1193 Specifications for Reagent Water
appear similar to the spectrum in Fig. 1. An approximate
238
D 2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of resolution of 250 keV FWHM for U (4.2 MeV) allows
2 238 234 232
Applicable Methods of Committee D-19 on Water
resolution and analysis of the U, U and U energy
2
D 3370 Practices for Sampling Water spectrum peaks when their activities are of the same order of
3 235
D 3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
magnitude. Resolution of the U (4.4 MeV) alpha peak is not
possible but its activity, which accounts for approximately
3. Terminology
2.2 % of the total natural uranium activity, is included in the
238 234
3.1 Definitions:
total uranium activity calculated when the U and U peaks
238 234
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
are in the region of interest (ROI). When the U and U
235
to Terminology D 1129. For terms not included in this refer-
peaks are integrated separately, a portion of the U activity
4 238 234
ence, refer to other published glossaries (1)
will be included in the U activity and the rest in the U
activity, depending on the exact ROIs selected. Likewise, if
236
233
present, U and U will not be resolved by the spectrometer;
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-19 on Water
however, their activity will be included in the total uranium
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.04 on Methods of Radiochemi-
ROI.
cal Analysis.
Current edition approved August 10, 1998. Published March 1999. Originally
5. Significance and Use
published as D 6239–98. Last previous edition D 6239–98.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
5.1 This test method is a fast, cost-effective method that can
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02.
238 234
4 yield limited isotopic activity levels for U and U, as well
The boldface numbers in parenthesis refer to the list of referenc
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