ASTM D3972-09(2015)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Isotopic Uranium in Water by Radiochemistry (Withdrawn 2024)
Standard Test Method for Isotopic Uranium in Water by Radiochemistry (Withdrawn 2024)
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method was developed to measure the radioactivity of uranium isotopes in environmental waters or waters released to the environment, and to determine whether the uranium-isotope concentrations are below the maximum amounts allowable by any regulatory statute.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of alpha-particle-emitting isotopes of uranium in water by means of chemical separations and alpha pulse-height analysis (also known as alpha-particle spectrometry). Uranium is chemically separated from a water sample by coprecipitation with ferrous hydroxide, anion exchange, and electrodeposition. The test method applies to soluble uranium as well as to any uranium that might be present in suspended matter in the water sample. This test method is applicable for uranium processing effluents as well as substitute ocean water. When suspended matter is present, an acid dissolution step is added to assure that all of the uranium dissolves. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested matrices.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 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. Specific warning statements are given in Section 9.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This test method covers the determination of alpha-particle-emitting isotopes of uranium in water by means of chemical separations and alpha pulse-height analysis (also known as alpha-particle spectrometry). Uranium is chemically separated from a water sample by coprecipitation with ferrous hydroxide, anion exchange, and electrodeposition. The test method applies to soluble uranium as well as to any uranium that might be present in suspended matter in the water sample. This test method is applicable for uranium processing effluents as well as substitute ocean water. When suspended matter is present, an acid dissolution step is added to assure that all of the uranium dissolves. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested matrices.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee D19 on Water, this test method was withdrawn in February 2024 in accordance with section 10.6.3 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.
General Information
Relations
Buy Standard
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D3972 − 09 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Test Method for
1
Isotopic Uranium in Water by Radiochemistry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3972; 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.
3
1. Scope in Closed Conduits (Withdrawn 2003)
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
1.1 This test method covers the determination of alpha-
D2777Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
particle-emitting isotopes of uranium in water by means of
Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
chemical separations and alpha pulse-height analysis (also
D3084Practice for Alpha-Particle Spectrometry of Water
known as alpha-particle spectrometry). Uranium is chemically
D3370Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
separated from a water sample by coprecipitation with ferrous
D3648Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
hydroxide, anion exchange, and electrodeposition. The test
D5847Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications
method applies to soluble uranium as well as to any uranium
for Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis
that might be present in suspended matter in the water sample.
D7282Practice for Set-up, Calibration, and Quality Control
This test method is applicable for uranium processing effluents
of Instruments Used for Radioactivity Measurements
as well as substitute ocean water. When suspended matter is
present, an acid dissolution step is added to assure that all of
3. Terminology
the uranium dissolves. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure
3.1 Definitions:
the validity of this test method for waters of untested matrices.
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
to Terminologies C859 and D1129. For terms not included in
4,5
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
these reference may be made to other published glossaries.
standard.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
232
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4.1 Thewatersampletobeanalyzedisacidifiedand Uis
added to serve as an isotopic tracer before any additional
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- operations are performed. If the sample is a seawater sample,
orifitcontainscarbonateorbicarbonateions,thesamplemust
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific warning
statements are given in Section 9. be boiled under acidic conditions to convert these ions to
carbon dioxide gas which is then expelled from the solution.
Carbonate ions must not be present during the precipitation
2. Referenced Documents
step because they complex the uranium and prevent its
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
coprecipitation.Theuraniumiscoprecipitatedfromthesample
C859Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
with ferrous hydroxide. This precipitate is dissolved in con-
C1163PracticeforMountingActinidesforAlphaSpectrom-
centrated hydrochloric acid, or is subjected to an acid dissolu-
etry Using Neodymium Fluoride
tion with concentrated nitric and hydrofluoric acids if the
D1066Practice for Sampling Steam
hydrochloric acid fails to dissolve the precipitate.
D1129Terminology Relating to Water
4.2 The uranium is separated from other radionuclides by
D1192Guide for Equipment for Sampling Water and Steam
adsorption on anion-exchange resin from 8 M hydrochloric
acid, followed by elution with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid. The
uraniumiselectrodepositedontoastainlesssteel disk.Isotopic
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D19 on Water
uranium radioactivities are measured by alpha pulse-height
andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD19.04onMethodsofRadiochemi-
cal Analysis.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2015. Published January 2015. Originally
3
approved in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D3972–09. DOI: The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
10.1520/D3972-09R15. www.astm.org.
2 4
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Parker, S. P., ed., Dictionary of Chemical Terms, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM York, NY, 1985.
5
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on IUPAC, “Glossary of Terms Used in NuclearAnalytical C
...
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: D3972 − 09 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Test Method for
1
Isotopic Uranium in Water by Radiochemistry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3972; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
3
1. Scope in Closed Conduits (Withdrawn 2003)
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
1.1 This test method covers the determination of alpha-
D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
particle-emitting isotopes of uranium in water by means of
Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
chemical separations and alpha pulse-height analysis (also
D3084 Practice for Alpha-Particle Spectrometry of Water
known as alpha-particle spectrometry). Uranium is chemically
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
separated from a water sample by coprecipitation with ferrous
D3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
hydroxide, anion exchange, and electrodeposition. The test
D5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications
method applies to soluble uranium as well as to any uranium
for Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis
that might be present in suspended matter in the water sample.
D7282 Practice for Set-up, Calibration, and Quality Control
This test method is applicable for uranium processing effluents
of Instruments Used for Radioactivity Measurements
as well as substitute ocean water. When suspended matter is
present, an acid dissolution step is added to assure that all of
3. Terminology
the uranium dissolves. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure
3.1 Definitions:
the validity of this test method for waters of untested matrices.
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
to Terminologies C859 and D1129. For terms not included in
4,5
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
these reference may be made to other published glossaries.
standard.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
232
4.1 The water sample to be analyzed is acidified and U is
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- added to serve as an isotopic tracer before any additional
operations are performed. If the sample is a seawater sample,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific warning or if it contains carbonate or bicarbonate ions, the sample must
be boiled under acidic conditions to convert these ions to
statements are given in Section 9.
carbon dioxide gas which is then expelled from the solution.
Carbonate ions must not be present during the precipitation
2. Referenced Documents
step because they complex the uranium and prevent its
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
coprecipitation. The uranium is coprecipitated from the sample
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
with ferrous hydroxide. This precipitate is dissolved in con-
C1163 Practice for Mounting Actinides for Alpha Spectrom-
centrated hydrochloric acid, or is subjected to an acid dissolu-
etry Using Neodymium Fluoride
tion with concentrated nitric and hydrofluoric acids if the
D1066 Practice for Sampling Steam
hydrochloric acid fails to dissolve the precipitate.
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
4.2 The uranium is separated from other radionuclides by
D1192 Guide for Equipment for Sampling Water and Steam
adsorption on anion-exchange resin from 8 M hydrochloric
acid, followed by elution with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid. The
uranium is electrodeposited onto a stainless steel disk. Isotopic
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water
uranium radioactivities are measured by alpha pulse-height
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.04 on Methods of Radiochemi-
cal Analysis.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2015. Published January 2015. Originally
3
approved in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D3972 – 09. DOI: The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
10.1520/D3972-09R15. www.astm.org.
2 4
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Parker, S. P., ed., Dictionary of Chemical Terms, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM York, NY, 1985.
5
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on IUPAC, “Glossary of Terms Used in Nuclear Analytical Chemistry,” Pure and
the ASTM website. Applied Chemistry, Vol 54, 1982, pp. 1533–
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.