ASTM C999-90(2000)

Standard Practice for Soil Sample Preparation for the Determination of Radionuclides

SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the preparation of surface soil samples collected for chemical analysis of radionuclides, particularly uranium and plutonium.
1.2 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. A specific hazard statement is given in Note 1.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-May-2000
• ICS: 13.080.05 - Examination of soils in general
• Technical Committee: C26 - Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• Drafting Committee: C26.05 - Methods of Test

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM C999-05 - Standard Practice for Soil Sample Preparation for the Determination of Radionuclides
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C1001-19 - Standard Test Method for Radiochemical Determination of Plutonium in Soil by Alpha Spectroscopy
• Effective Date: 10-May-2000
• Referred By: ASTM C1507-20 - Standard Test Method for Radiochemical Determination of Strontium-90 in Soil
• Effective Date: 10-May-2000
• Referred By: ASTM C1475-17 - Standard Guide for Determination of Neptunium-237 in Soil
• Effective Date: 10-May-2000
• Referred By: ASTM C1387-23 - Standard Guide for the Determination of Technetium-99 in Soil
• Effective Date: 10-May-2000
• Referred By: ASTM C1205-20 - Standard Test Method for The Radiochemical Determination of Americium-241 in Soil by Alpha Spectrometry
• Effective Date: 10-May-2000
• Referred By: ASTM E1893-15(2021) - Standard Guide for Selection and Use of Portable Radiological Survey Instruments for Performing In Situ Radiological Assessments to Support Unrestricted Release from Further Regulatory Controls
• Effective Date: 10-May-2000
• Referred By: ASTM C1000-19 - Standard Test Method for Radiochemical Determination of Uranium Isotopes in Soil by Alpha Spectrometry
• Effective Date: 10-May-2000
• Referred By: ASTM C1402-17 - Standard Guide for High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Spectrometry of Soil Samples
• Effective Date: 10-May-2000

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:C999–90(Reapproved 2000)
Standard Practice for
Soil Sample Preparation for the Determination of
Radionuclides
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C999; 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. Scope neous sample is available for radiochemical and gamma-ray
spectrometry measurements.
1.1 This practice covers the preparation of surface soil
samples collected for chemical analysis of radionuclides,
5. Apparatus
particularly uranium and plutonium. This practice describes
5.1 Scale, capacity of 10 kg.
one acceptable approach to the preparation of soil samples for
5.2 Drying Oven, able to maintain 62°C.
radiochemical analysis.
5.3 Pans, disposable aluminum.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.4 Jar Mill, capacity for 7.57-L (2-gal) cans.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5.5 Steel Cans and Lids, 7.57-L (2-gal).
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.6 CeramicRods,21mmby21mm(13/16in.by13/16in.)
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
or steel grinding balls, 25.4-mm (1-in.) diameter.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. A specific hazard
5.7 Sieve, U.S. Series No. 35 (500-µm or 32 mesh).
statement is given in Note 1.
5.8 Plastic Bottles, 7.57-L.
2. Referenced Documents
6. Procedure
2.1 ASTM Standards:
6.1 Label a cleaned 7.57-L (2–gal) steel can and lid with a
C998 Practice for Sampling Surface Soil for Radionu-
laboratory code number.
clides
6.2 Weigh the labeled steel can and lid. Record the weight.
3. Summary of Practice 6.3 Transfer the ten soil cores (including vegetation) from
the field collection containers into the labeled, preweighed
3.1 Guidance is provided for the preparation of a homoge-
steel can. Do not pack the can full. Place the steel lid loosely
neous soil sample from ten composited core samples (aggre-
on the can.
gateweightof4to5kg)collectedastoberepresentativeofthe
area.
NOTE 1—Precaution:Wear gloves throughout the preparation proce-
dure to minimize the possibility of fungus infection.
4. Significance and Use
6.4 Weigh the sample cores, steel can, and lid to 650 g.
4.1 Soil samples prepared for radionuclide analyses by this
Record the weight.
practice are used to monitor fallout distribution from nuclear
6.5 Remove the lid and place the sample in a 110°C drying
facilities. This practice is intended to produce a homogeneous
oven for 24 h or longer, depending on the depth of soil in the
sample from which a relatively small aliquot (10 g) may be
can, until the sample has reached constant weight.
drawn for radiochemical analyses.
6.6 Remove the sample from the oven, cap the can with its
4.2 Mostnuclearfacilitiesfulfillmajorrequirementsoftheir
lid, and cool to room temperature.
monitoring programs by gamma-ray spectrometry measure-
6.7 Weigh the dried sample cores, steel can, and lid to 650
mentsofsoil.Awidelyusedpracticeforthesemeasurementsis
g. Record the weight.
to fill a calibrated sample container, such as a Marinelli beaker
6.8 Remove the can lid and add 10 to 12 ceramic rods (21
(;600-mL volume), with a homogenized soil sample. By
mm by 21 mm) or steel balls (25.4–mm diameter) to the can.
preparing the entire soil core collection, sufficient homoge-
6.9 Replace the lid and tightly seal the sample can.
6.10 Place the sample can on a jar mill for at least 4 h, or
1 overnight if possible, at 30 r/min.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear
6.11 Remove the sample can from the mill and place in a
FuelCycleandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeC26.05onTestMethods.
Current edition approved June 29, 1990. Published August 1990. Originally
hood.
published as C999–83. Last previous editioin C999–83.
6.12 Allow the sample to settle for a few minutes.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.01.
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C999
6.13 Label a 7.57-L (2-gal) plastic jar and cap with the
T = weight of the soil cores, steel can, and lid, g (from
laboratory code number of the sample.
6.4), and
6.14 Remove the lid from the sample can and transfer a
C = weight of the empty steel can and lid, g (from 6.2).
portion of the sample to a U.S. Series No. 35 (500-µm or 32
7.2 Dry Weight of the Composited Soil Cores—The dry-
mesh) sieve.
weight(D)ofthecompositedsoilcoresistheweightmeasured
6.15 Transfer the sieved fraction to the prelabeled plastic
after drying the cores at 110°C as follows:
jar.
D 5N 2C
6.16 Repeat the sieving and transfer steps until the entire
(2)
sample has been processed.
6.17 Remove the ceramic rods or steel balls from the where:
unsieved material. D = dry (110°C) weight of the soil cores, g,
N = weight of the dried (110°C) soil cores, steel can, and
6.18 Place the unsieved material in the can and replace the
lid, g (from 6.7), and
lid.
C = weight of the empty steel can and lid, g (from 6.2).
6.19 Weigh, record the weight, and discard the un
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