ISO/TC 147/SC 3/WG 14 - ICP/MS

This document specifies a method to determine 93Zr by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mass concentrations obtained can be converted into activity concentrations. The method is applicable to test samples of drinking water, rainwater, surface and ground water, marine water, as well as cooling water, industrial water, domestic, and industrial wastewater after proper sampling and handling, and test sample preparation. The limit of detection depends on the sample volume, the instrument used, the background count rate, the detection efficiency and the chemical yield. In this document, the limit of detection of the method using currently available apparatus is approximately 0,09 Bq·l−1 (or Bq·kg−1), which is lower than the WHO criteria for safe consumption of drinking water (100 Bq·l−1)[4]. The method described in this document covers the measurement of 93Zr in water at activity concentrations between 0,09 Bq·l−1 and 100 Bq·l−1. Samples with higher activity concentrations than 100 Bq·l−1 can be measured if a dilution is performed. The method described in this document is applicable in the event of an emergency. Filtration of the test sample is necessary for the method described in this document. The analysis of 93Zr adsorbed to suspended matter is not covered by this method. The analysis of the insoluble fraction requires a mineralization step that is not covered by this document. In this case, the measurement is made on the different phases obtained. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for the water samples tested.

This document specifies methods to determine strontium-90 (90Sr) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mass concentrations obtained can be converted into activity concentrations. The method described in this document is applicable to test samples of supply water, drinking water, rainwater, surface and ground water, as well as cooling water, industrial water, domestic and industrial wastewater after proper sampling and handling and test sample preparation. The limit of detection depends on the sample volume, the instrument used, the background count rate, the detection efficiency and the chemical yield. In this document, the limit of detection of the method using currently available apparatus and chemical pre-concentration, is approximately 5 Bq·l−1, which is lower than the WHO criteria for safe consumption of drinking water (10 Bq·l−1)[4]. The method described in this document covers the measurement of 90Sr in water at activity concentrations up to 1 000 Bq·l−1. Samples with higher activity concentrations than 1 000 Bq·l−1 can be measured if a dilution is performed. The method described in this document is applicable in the event of an emergency situation. Filtration of the test sample is necessary for the method described in this document. The analysis of 90Sr adsorbed to suspended matter is not covered by this method. The analysis of the insoluble fraction requires a mineralization step that is not covered by this document. In this case, the measurement is made on the different phases obtained. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for the water samples tested.

This document specifies a method to determine 231Pa by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mass concentrations obtained can be converted into activity concentrations. The method described in this document is applicable to test samples of drinking water, rainwater, surface and ground water, marine water, as well as cooling water, industrial water, domestic and industrial wastewater after proper sampling and handling and test sample preparation. The limit of detection depends on the sample volume, the instrument used, the background count rate, the detection efficiency and the chemical yield. In this document, the limit of detection of the method using currently available apparatus is approximately 0,1 Bq·l−1 (or Bq·kg−1), which is the same as the WHO criteria for safe consumption of drinking water (0,1 Bq·l−1)[4]. The method described in this document covers the measurement of 231Pa in water at activity concentrations between 0,1 Bq·l−1 and 100 Bq·l−1. Samples with higher activity concentrations than 100 Bq·l−1 can be measured if a dilution is performed. The method described in this document is applicable in the event of an emergency. Filtration of the test sample is necessary for the method described in this document. The analysis of 231Pa adsorbed to suspended matter is not covered by this method. The analysis of the insoluble fraction requires a mineralization step that is not covered by this document. In this case, the measurement is made on the different phases obtained. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for the water samples tested.

This document specifies methods to determine 226Ra concentration by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mass concentrations obtained can be converted into activity concentrations. The method is applicable to test samples of drinking water, rainwater, surface and ground water, after proper sampling and handling, and test sample preparation. The detection limit depends on the sample volume, the instrument used, the background count rate, the detection efficiency, the counting time and the chemical yield. The detection limit of the method described in this document, using currently available equipment, is approximately 10 mBq·l-1, which is better than the WHO criteria for safe consumption of drinking water (1 Bq·l-1). This method covers the measurement of 226Ra in water at activity concentrations between 0,001 Bq·l−1 and 100 Bq·l−1. Samples with concentrations higher than 1 Bq·l−1 can be measured if a dilution is performed. The method described in this document is applicable in the event of an emergency situation. In this method, filtration of the test sample is necessary. The analysis of 226Ra adsorbed to suspended matter is not covered by this method. The analysis of the insoluble fraction requires a mineralization step that is not covered by this document. In this case, the measurement is made on the different phases obtained. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for the water samples tested.