SIST EN ISO 11704:2015
(Main)Water quality - Measurement of gross alpha and beta activity concentration in non-saline water - Liquid scintillation counting method (ISO 11704:2010)
Water quality - Measurement of gross alpha and beta activity concentration in non-saline water - Liquid scintillation counting method (ISO 11704:2010)
This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of gross alpha and gross beta activity in waters for radionuclides which are not volatile at 80 °C. Radon isotopes and their decay products of short half life are not included in the determination.
The method is applicable to raw and potable waters with a dry residue less than 5 g/l and when no correction for colour quenching is necessary.
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Bestimmung der Gesamt-Alpha- und Gesamt-Beta-Aktivität in nicht-salzhaltigem Wasser - Verfahren mit dem Flüssigszintillationszähler (ISO 11704:2010)
Qualité de l'eau - Mesurage des activités alpha globale et bêta globale des eaux non salines - Méthode de comptage par scintillation liquide (ISO 11704:2010)
L'ISO 11704:2010 spécifie une méthode de détermination des activités alpha globale et bêta globale dans les eaux, pour les radionucléides qui ne sont pas volatils à 80 °C. Les isotopes du radon et leurs produits de désintégration à courte demi-vie ne sont pas inclus dans la détermination.
La méthode est applicable aux eaux brutes et potables ayant un résidu sec inférieur à 5 g/l et lorsque aucune correction n'est nécessaire pour l'affaiblissement lumineux de couleur.
Kakovost vode - Merjenje skupne alfa in skupne beta koncentracije aktivnosti v neslanih vodah - Metoda štetja s tekočinskim scintilatorjem (ISO 11704:2010)
Ta mednarodni standard opisuje metodo za določevanje skupne alfa in skupne beta aktivnosti v vodah za radionuklide, ki niso hlapni pri 80 °C. Izotopi radona in njihovi razpadni produkti s kratkim razpolovnim časom v določevanje niso vključeni. Metoda se uporablja za neobdelane in pitne vode s suhim ostankom, manjšim od 5 g/l, pri katerih ni potreben popravek za dušenje fluorescence.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Wasserbeschaffenheit - Bestimmung der Gesamt-Alpha- und Gesamt-Beta-Aktivität in nicht-salzhaltigem Wasser - Verfahren mit dem Flüssigszintillationszähler (ISO 11704:2010)Qualité de l'eau - Mesurage des activités alpha globale et bêta globale des eaux non salines - Méthode de comptage par scintillation liquide (ISO 11704:2010)Water quality - Measurement of gross alpha and beta activity concentration in non-saline water - Liquid scintillation counting method (ISO 11704:2010)17.240Merjenje sevanjaRadiation measurements13.060.60Preiskava fizikalnih lastnosti vodeExamination of physical properties of waterICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN ISO 11704:2015SIST EN ISO 11704:2015en,de01-oktober-2015SIST EN ISO 11704:2015SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 11704:2015
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN ISO 11704
August 2015 ICS 17.240; 13.060.60 English Version
Water quality - Measurement of gross alpha and beta activity concentration in non-saline water - Liquid scintillation counting method (ISO 11704:2010)
Qualité de l'eau - Mesurage des activités alpha globale et bêta globale des eaux non salines - Méthode de comptage par scintillation liquide (ISO 11704:2010)
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Bestimmung der Gesamt-Alpha- und Gesamt-Beta-Aktivität in nicht-salzhaltigem Wasser - Verfahren mit dem Flüssigszintillationszähler (ISO 11704:2010) This European Standard was approved by CEN on 30 July 2015.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2015 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN ISO 11704:2015 ESIST EN ISO 11704:2015
EN ISO 11704:2015 (E) 2 Contents
Page European foreword .3 SIST EN ISO 11704:2015
EN ISO 11704:2015 (E) 3 European foreword The text of ISO 11704:2010 has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147 “Water quality” of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and has been taken over as EN ISO 11704:2015 by Technical Committee CEN/TC 230 “Water analysis” the secretariat of which is held by DIN. This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2016, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by February 2016. Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Endorsement notice The text of ISO 11704:2010 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 11704:2015 without any modification.
SIST EN ISO 11704:2015
SIST EN ISO 11704:2015
Reference numberISO 11704:2010(E)© ISO 2010
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO11704First edition2010-07-01Water quality — Measurement of gross alpha and beta activity concentration in non-saline water — Liquid scintillation counting method Qualité de l'eau — Mesurage des activités alpha globale et bêta globale des eaux non salines — Méthode de comptage par scintillation liquide
SIST EN ISO 11704:2015
ISO 11704:2010(E) PDF disclaimer This PDF file may contain embedded typefaces. In accordance with Adobe's licensing policy, this file may be printed or viewed but shall not be edited unless the typefaces which are embedded are licensed to and installed on the computer performing the editing. In downloading this file, parties accept therein the responsibility of not infringing Adobe's licensing policy. The ISO Central Secretariat accepts no liability in this area. Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Details of the software products used to create this PDF file can be found in the General Info relative to the file; the PDF-creation parameters were optimized for printing. Every care has been taken to ensure that the file is suitable for use by ISO member bodies. In the unlikely event that a problem relating to it is found, please inform the Central Secretariat at the address given below.
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
©
ISO 2010 All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or ISO's member body in the country of the requester. ISO copyright office Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20 Tel.
+ 41 22 749 01 11 Fax
+ 41 22 749 09 47 E-mail
copyright@iso.org Web
www.iso.org Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2010 – All rights reserved
SIST EN ISO 11704:2015
ISO 11704:2010(E) © ISO 2010 – All rights reserved iii Contents Page Foreword.iv 1 Scope.1 2 Normative references.1 3 Symbols, definitions and units.2 4 Principle.2 5 Reagents and equipment.3 6 Sampling.4 7 Procedure.4 7.1 Direct counting.4 7.2 Thermal preconcentration.5 7.3 Sample preparation.5 7.4 Liquid scintillation measurement.5 8 Expression of results.7 8.1 Calculation of activity per unit of mass.7 8.2 Standard uncertainty.8 8.3 Decision threshold.8 8.4 Detection limit.9 8.5 Confidence limits.9 8.6 Quality control.10 9 Interference control.10 9.1 Contamination.10 9.2 Ingrowth of radon.10 9.3 Loss of polonium.10 10 Test report.10 Bibliography.12
SIST EN ISO 11704:2015
ISO 11704:2010(E) iv © ISO 2010 – All rights reserved Foreword ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization. International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2. The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote. Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. ISO 11704 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147, Water quality. SIST EN ISO 11704:2015
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 11704:2010(E) © ISO 2010 – All rights reserved 1 Water quality — Measurement of gross alpha and beta activity concentration in non-saline water — Liquid scintillation counting method WARNING — Persons using this International Standard should be familiar with normal laboratory practice. 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 to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to ensure compliance with any national regulatory conditions. IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests conducted according to this International Standard be carried out by suitably trained staff. 1 Scope This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of gross alpha and gross beta activity in waters for radionuclides which are not volatile at 80 °C. Radon isotopes and their decay products of short half life are not included in the determination. The method is applicable to raw and potable waters with a dry residue less than 5 g/l and when no correction for colour quenching is necessary. 2 Normative references The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. ISO 5667-3, Water quality — Sampling — Part 3: Guidance on the preservation and handling of water samples ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories ISO 80000-10, Quantities and units — Part 10: Atomic and nuclear physics SIST EN ISO 11704:2015
ISO 11704:2010(E) 2 © ISO 2010 – All rights reserved 3 Symbols, definitions and units For the purposes of this document, the definitions, symbols and abbreviations defined in ISO 80000-10, as well as the following symbols, definitions and units, apply. aα, aβ Alpha and beta activity per mass Bq g−1 a* Decision threshold Bq g−1 #a Detection limit Bq g−1 ,aa Lower and upper limits of the confidence interval Bq g−1 Aα, Aβ Activity of the alpha and beta emitter certified reference solution used for the α and β calibration sources Bq m Mass of the test sample g m1 Mass of initial sample subject to heating or possibly concentration g m2 Mass of heated or concentrated sample g m3 Mass of heated or concentrated sample transferred in the vial g mSα, mSβ Mass of alpha and beta emitters certified reference solutions, respectively g rgα, rgβ Sample gross count rate, from the alpha and beta windows, respectively
s−1 r0α, r0β, r0T Blank count rate, from the alpha, beta and total windows, respectively s−1 rSα,α, rSα,β, rSα,T Count rate of the alpha calibration source in the alpha, beta and total window s−1 rSβ,α, rSβ,β, rSβ,T Count rate of the beta calibration source in the alpha, beta and total window s−1 tg Sample counting time s t0 Blank counting time s tsα, tsβ Counting time of α and β calibration sources s u (a) Standard uncertainty associated with the measurement result Bq g−1 U Expanded uncertainty, calculated from U = ku (a), where k = 1, 2 … Bq g−1 ()uaα Standard uncertainty of aα as a function of its true value Bq g−1 εα, εβ Counting efficiency for alpha and beta, respectively — ()τχαŽ Alpha interference — Fraction of counts observed in the beta window withrespect to the total number of counts measured by the counter when analpha emitter is measured — ()βτχŽ Beta interference — Fraction of counts observed in the alpha window withrespect to the total number of counts measured by the counter when a betaemitter is measured — 4 Principle Gross alpha and beta activity concentrations are determined by using liquid scintillation counting of a water sample mixed with a scintillation cocktail. Gross alpha and beta determinations are not absolute determinations of the sample radioactive contents, but relative determinations referred to a specific alpha or beta emitter which constitutes the standard calibration sources. These types of determinations are also known as the alpha and beta index. SIST EN ISO 11704:2015
ISO 11704:2010(E) © ISO 2010 – All rights reserved 3 The aqueous sample is acidified using nitric acid and heated. Subsequently, water with low salt content can be thermally concentrated by slow evaporation to improve the method sensitivity. An aliquot of sample is transferred into a liquid scintillation vial with scintillation cocktail; scintillations from the vial are then counted by equipment with an alpha and beta discrimination device. The counter is previously optimized with respect to an alpha and beta discriminator setting and then calibrated against alpha and beta emitter certified reference solutions. In data evaluation, no correction for chemical quenching is applied, since the procedure is designed to provide samples with a constant quenching level. The method does not account for 222Rn and its daughters of short half life and it is not suitable for 3H and 14C measurement. When suspended matter is present in significant quantities, a filtration step is required before acidification. 5 Reagents and equipment All reagents shall be of recognized analytical grade, except for the scintillation cocktail, and shall not contain any detectable alpha and beta activity, except for the radioactive certified reference solutions. 5.1 Nitric acid, c(HNO3) = 15,8 mol/l,
= 1,42 g/ml, mass fraction w(HNO3) = 70 %. 5.2 Water, ISO 3696[1], grade 3. Deionized water can contain detectable amounts of 222Rn and short half-life decay products. It is therefore strongly recommended to boil water under vigorous stirring and let it stand for one day before use. Alternatively, use nitrogen flushing for about 1 h for a 2 l sample. 5.3 Scintillation cocktail. Commercially available scintillation cocktails suitable for alpha and beta discrimination (e.g. diisopropylnaphthalene-based cocktails). 5.4 Volatile organic solvents. Methanol or ethanol. 5.5 Certified reference solutions. A calibration laboratory establishes traceability of its own calibration sources and measuring instruments to the International System of Units (SI) by means of an unbroken chain of calibrations or comparisons linking them to relevant certified reference solutions of the SI units of measurement. The link to the SI units may be achieved with respect to national certified reference materials. These may be primary realizations of the SI units, or agreed representations of SI units based on fundamental physical constants, or they may be secondary materials which are materials certified by another national metrology institute. When using external calibration services, traceability of measurement shall be assured by the use of calibration services from laboratories that can demonstrate competence, measurement capability, and traceability. The calibration certificates issued by these laboratories shall contain the measurement results, including the measurement uncertainty and/or statement of compliance with an identified metrological specification. NOTE Calibration laboratories fulfilling the requirements of this International Standard are considered to be competent. A calibration certificate bearing an accreditation body logo from a calibration laboratory accredited to this International Standard, for the calibration concerned, is sufficient evidence of traceability of the calibration data reported. In general, the experimental parameters (efficiency, alpha and beta optimum discrimination) depend on alpha and beta energies, thus the choice of alpha and beta emitter certified reference solutions will depend on knowledge of the type of radioactive contaminant likely to be present in the waters being tested (see ISO 9696[4] and Reference [11]). 5.5.1 Alpha emitter certif
...
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
01-maj-2015
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Water quality - Measurement of gross alpha and beta activity concentration in non-saline
water - Liquid scintillation counting method (ISO 11704:2010)
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Bestimmung der Gesamt-Alpha- und Gesamt-Beta-Aktivität in
nicht-salzhaltigem Wasser - Verfahren mit dem Flüssigszintillationszähler (ISO
11704:2010)
Qualité de l'eau - Mesurage des activités alpha globale et bêta globale des eaux non
salines - Méthode de comptage par scintillation liquide (ISO 11704:2010)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: FprEN ISO 11704
ICS:
13.060.60 Preiskava fizikalnih lastnosti Examination of physical
vode properties of water
17.240 Merjenje sevanja Radiation measurements
kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015 en,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
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kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
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kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
EUROPEAN STANDARD
FINAL DRAFT
FprEN ISO 11704
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
January 2015
ICS 13.060.60; 17.240
English Version
Water quality - Measurement of gross alpha and beta activity
concentration in non-saline water - Liquid scintillation counting
method (ISO 11704:2010)
Qualité de l'eau - Mesurage des activités alpha globale et Wasserbeschaffenheit - Bestimmung der Gesamt-Alpha-
bêta globale des eaux non salines - Méthode de comptage und Gesamt-Beta-Aktivität in nicht-salzhaltigem Wasser -
par scintillation liquide (ISO 11704:2010) Verfahren mit dem Flüssigszintillationszähler (ISO
11704:2010)
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for unique acceptance procedure. It has been drawn up by the Technical
Committee CEN/TC 230.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which
stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language
made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United
Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to
provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without notice and
shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2015 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. FprEN ISO 11704:2015 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
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kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
FprEN ISO 11704:2015 (E)
Contents Page
Foreword .3
2
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kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
FprEN ISO 11704:2015 (E)
Foreword
The text of ISO 11704:2010 has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147 “Water quality” of the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and has been taken over as FprEN ISO 11704:2015 by
Technical Committee CEN/TC 230 “Water analysis” the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This document is currently submitted to the Unique Acceptance Procedure.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 11704:2010 has been approved by CEN as FprEN ISO 11704:2015 without any modification.
3
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kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
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kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 11704
First edition
2010-07-01
Water quality — Measurement of gross
alpha and beta activity concentration in
non-saline water — Liquid scintillation
counting method
Qualité de l'eau — Mesurage des activités alpha globale et bêta globale
des eaux non salines — Méthode de comptage par scintillation liquide
Reference number
ISO 11704:2010(E)
©
ISO 2010
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kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
ISO 11704:2010(E)
PDF disclaimer
This PDF file may contain embedded typefaces. In accordance with Adobe's licensing policy, this file may be printed or viewed but
shall not be edited unless the typefaces which are embedded are licensed to and installed on the computer performing the editing. In
downloading this file, parties accept therein the responsibility of not infringing Adobe's licensing policy. The ISO Central Secretariat
accepts no liability in this area.
Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Details of the software products used to create this PDF file can be found in the General Info relative to the file; the PDF-creation
parameters were optimized for printing. Every care has been taken to ensure that the file is suitable for use by ISO member bodies. In
the unlikely event that a problem relating to it is found, please inform the Central Secretariat at the address given below.
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2010
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
ISO's member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2010 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
ISO 11704:2010(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope.1
2 Normative references.1
3 Symbols, definitions and units .2
4 Principle.2
5 Reagents and equipment.3
6 Sampling.4
7 Procedure.4
7.1 Direct counting .4
7.2 Thermal preconcentration.5
7.3 Sample preparation.5
7.4 Liquid scintillation measurement .5
8 Expression of results.7
8.1 Calculation of activity per unit of mass .7
8.2 Standard uncertainty.8
8.3 Decision threshold .8
8.4 Detection limit.9
8.5 Confidence limits.9
8.6 Quality control.10
9 Interference control.10
9.1 Contamination .10
9.2 Ingrowth of radon.10
9.3 Loss of polonium.10
10 Test report.10
Bibliography.12
© ISO 2010 – All rights reserved iii
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kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
ISO 11704:2010(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 11704 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147, Water quality.
iv © ISO 2010 – All rights reserved
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kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 11704:2010(E)
Water quality — Measurement of gross alpha and beta activity
concentration in non-saline water — Liquid scintillation
counting method
WARNING — Persons using this International Standard should be familiar with normal laboratory
practice. 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 to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to
ensure compliance with any national regulatory conditions.
IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests conducted according to this International Standard
be carried out by suitably trained staff.
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of gross alpha and gross beta activity in
waters for radionuclides which are not volatile at 80 °C. Radon isotopes and their decay products of short half
life are not included in the determination.
The method is applicable to raw and potable waters with a dry residue less than 5 g/l and when no correction
for colour quenching is necessary.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 5667-3, Water quality — Sampling — Part 3: Guidance on the preservation and handling of water
samples
ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO 80000-10, Quantities and units — Part 10: Atomic and nuclear physics
© ISO 2010 – All rights reserved 1
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kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
ISO 11704:2010(E)
3 Symbols, definitions and units
For the purposes of this document, the definitions, symbols and abbreviations defined in ISO 80000-10, as
well as the following symbols, definitions and units, apply.
−1
a , a Alpha and beta activity per mass Bq g
α β
−1
a* Decision threshold Bq g
#
−1
a Detection limit Bq g
−1
aa, Lower and upper limits of the confidence interval Bq g
A , A Activity of the alpha and beta emitter certified reference solution used for the Bq
α β
α and β calibration sources
m Mass of the test sample g
m Mass of initial sample subject to heating or possibly concentration g
1
m Mass of heated or concentrated sample g
2
m Mass of heated or concentrated sample transferred in the vial g
3
m , m Mass of alpha and beta emitters certified reference solutions, respectively g
Sα Sβ
−1
r , r Sample gross count rate, from the alpha and beta windows, respectively s
gα gβ
−1
r , r , r Blank count rate, from the alpha, beta and total windows, respectively s
0α 0β 0T
−1
r , r , r Count rate of the alpha calibration source in the alpha, beta and total window s
Sα,α Sα,β Sα,T
−1
r , r , r Count rate of the beta calibration source in the alpha, beta and total window s
Sβ,α Sβ,β Sβ,T
t Sample counting time s
g
t Blank counting time s
0
t , t Counting time of α and β calibration sources s
sα sβ
−1
u (a) Standard uncertainty associated with the measurement result Bq g
−1
U Expanded uncertainty, calculated from U = ku (a), where k = 1, 2 … Bq g
−1
ua() Standard uncertainty of a as a function of its true value Bq g
α α
ε , ε Counting efficiency for alpha and beta, respectively —
α β
α→β
τχ() Alpha interference — Fraction of counts observed in the beta window with —
α
respect to the total number of counts measured by the counter when an
alpha emitter is measured
β→α
τχ() Beta interference — Fraction of counts observed in the alpha window with —
β
respect to the total number of counts measured by the counter when a beta
emitter is measured
4 Principle
Gross alpha and beta activity concentrations are determined by using liquid scintillation counting of a water
sample mixed with a scintillation cocktail.
Gross alpha and beta determinations are not absolute determinations of the sample radioactive contents, but
relative determinations referred to a specific alpha or beta emitter which constitutes the standard calibration
sources. These types of determinations are also known as the alpha and beta index.
2 © ISO 2010 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------
kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
ISO 11704:2010(E)
The aqueous sample is acidified using nitric acid and heated. Subsequently, water with low salt content can
be thermally concentrated by slow evaporation to improve the method sensitivity. An aliquot of sample is
transferred into a liquid scintillation vial with scintillation cocktail; scintillations from the vial are then counted by
equipment with an alpha and beta discrimination device.
The counter is previously optimized with respect to an alpha and beta discriminator setting and then calibrated
against alpha and beta emitter certified reference solutions. In data evaluation, no correction for chemical
quenching is applied, since the procedure is designed to provide samples with a constant quenching level.
222 3 14
The method does not account for Rn and its daughters of short half life and it is not suitable for H and C
measurement.
When suspended matter is present in significant quantities, a filtration step is required before acidification.
5 Reagents and equipment
All reagents shall be of recognized analytical grade, except for the scintillation cocktail, and shall not contain
any detectable alpha and beta activity, except for the radioactive certified reference solutions.
5.1 Nitric acid, c(HNO ) = 15,8 mol/l, ρ = 1,42 g/ml, mass fraction w(HNO ) = 70 %.
3 3
[1]
5.2 Water, ISO 3696 , grade 3.
222
Deionized water can contain detectable amounts of Rn and short half-life decay products. It is therefore
strongly recommended to boil water under vigorous stirring and let it stand for one day before use.
Alternatively, use nitrogen flushing for about 1 h for a 2 l sample.
5.3 Scintillation cocktail. Commercially available scintillation cocktails suitable for alpha and beta
discrimination (e.g. diisopropylnaphthalene-based cocktails).
5.4 Volatile organic solvents. Methanol or ethanol.
5.5 Certified reference solutions. A calibration laboratory establishes traceability of its own calibration
sources and measuring instruments to the International System of Units (SI) by means of an unbroken chain
of calibrations or comparisons linking them to relevant certified reference solutions of the SI units of
measurement. The link to the SI units may be achieved with respect to national certified reference materials.
These may be primary realizations of the SI units, or agreed representations of SI units based on fundamental
physical constants, or they may be secondary materials which are materials certified by another national
metrology institute. When using external calibration services, traceability of measurement shall be assured by
the use of calibration services from laboratories that can demonstrate competence, measurement capability,
and traceability. The calibration certificates issued by these laboratories shall contain the measurement results,
including the measurement uncertainty and/or statement of compliance with an identified metrological
specification.
NOTE Calibration laboratories fulfilling the requirements of this International Standard are considered to be
competent. A calibration certificate bearing an accreditation body logo from a calibration laboratory accredited to this
International Standard, for the calibration concerned, is sufficient evidence of traceability of the calibration data reported.
In general, the experimental parameters (efficiency, alpha and beta optimum discrimination) depend on alpha
and beta energies, thus the choice of alpha and beta emitter certified reference solutions will depend on
knowledge of the type of radioactive contaminant likely to be present in the waters being tested (see
[4]
ISO 9696 and Reference [11]).
5.5.1 Alpha emitter certified reference solution. The alpha emitter certified reference solution shall not
contain any unexpected detectable alpha and beta activity.
© ISO 2010 – All rights reserved 3
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kSIST FprEN ISO 11704:2015
ISO 11704:2010(E)
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NOTE
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