ASTM_D_5811_-_08_2013.pdf

Designation:D581108(Reapproved 2013)Standard Test Method forStrontium-90 in Water1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5811;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers the determination of radioac-tive90Sr in environmental water samples(for example,non-process and effluent waters)in the range of 0.037 Bq/L(1.0pCi/L)or greater.1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.The values given in parentheses are for informationonly.1.3 This test method has been used successfully with tapwater.It is the users responsibility to ensure the validity of thistest method for samples larger than 1 L and for waters ofuntested matrices.1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.For specific hazardstatements,see Section 9.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D1129 Terminology Relating to WaterD1193 Specification for Reagent WaterD1890 Test Method for Beta Particle Radioactivity of WaterD2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias ofApplicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on WaterD3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed ConduitsD3648 Practices for the Measurement of RadioactivityD4448 Guide for Sampling Ground-Water Monitoring WellsD5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specificationsfor Standard Test Methods for Water AnalysisD6001 Guide for Direct-Push Groundwater Sampling forEnvironmental Site CharacterizationD7282 Practice for Set-up,Calibration,and Quality Controlof Instruments Used for Radioactivity Measurements3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms used in this testmethod,refer to Terminology D1129.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 This test method is based on the utilization of solidphase extraction of strontium from water samples with detec-tion of the radioactive strontium by gross beta gas proportionalcounting.4.2 An aliquant of the sample is measured into a beaker,strontium carrier added,digested with nitric acid,sorbed on anion exchange column,eluted,evaporated to dryness,dissolvedin nitric acid(8M),selectively sorbed on a solid phaseextraction column,eluted with dilute nitric acid,dried on aplanchet,and counted for beta radiation.4.3 Fig.1 shows a flow diagram for this test method.5.Significance and Use5.1 This test method was developed to measure the concen-tration of90Sr in non-process water samples.This test methodmay be used to determine the concentration of90Sr in environ-mental samples.6.Interferences6.1 Significant amounts of stable strontium present in thesample will interfere with the yield determination.If it isknown or suspected that natural strontium is present in thesample at levels that will compromise the determination of thechemical yield,blank sample aliquots to which no strontiumcarrier is added shall be analyzed to determine the naturalstrontium content.The amount of natural strontium containedin the sample shall be reflected when calculating the yieldcorrection factor.6.2 Strontium-89 present in the sample will cause a highbias in proportion to the89Sr/90Sr ratio.This technique is notapplicable when it is suspected or known that89Sr is present inthe sample.6.3 Strontium nitrate(Sr(NO3)2)is hygroscopic.Thischemical property may add uncertainty in the gravimetric yielddetermination.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Waterand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.04 on Methods of Radiochemi-cal Analysis.Current edition approved June 15,2013.Published July 2013.Originallyapproved in 1995.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D5811 08.DOI:10.1520/D5811-08R13.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 7.Apparatus7.1 Analytical Balance,0.0001 g.7.2 Low Background Gas Proportional Beta Counting Sys-tem.7.3 Ion Exchange Columns,10 mL resin capacity,glass oracid-resistant plastic.An attached reservoir of at least 50 mL isdesirable.7.4 Planchets,stainless steel to match calibration source.38.Reagents and Materials8.1 Purity of ReagentsReagent grade chemicals shall beused in all tests.Unless otherwise indicated,it is intended that3Stainless steel planchets available commercially have been found satisfactory.FIG.1 Flow Diagram for the ProcedureD5811 08(2013)2 all reagents shall