ASTM_D_2577_-_86_scan.pdf

Designation:D 2577-86 4STb AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS 1916 Rac.e St.Philadelphia,Pa.19103 Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards.Copyright ASTM If not listed in lhe current combined index.will appear in the next edlllon.Standard Test Method for RADIOACTIVE CESIUM I N WATER This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2577:the number immediately following the designation indicates the ymr of original adoption or.in the case of revision.the year of last revision.A number in parenth-indicates the year o last reapproval.A supcncript epsilon(e)indicates an ditonal change since the last revision or reapproval.1.scope I.1 This test method covers the determination of radioactive cesium in water in concentrations greater than I pCi/L.Concentration of the sam-ple may be used in some cases to increase the sensitivity of the test method.This test method is not applicable to artificial brine samples con-taining more than two milliequivalents of so-dium and free acid in the l-mL aliquot used for extraction.1.2 This test method may be used either for absolute measurements by calibrating the nuclear radiation detector with a standard cesium radio-isotope of the same mass,or for relative mea-surements by comparing a series of measure-ments to each other.This test method is limited to the cesium isotopes of mass 134,136,137,and 138.The 6 d a y isotope of mass 132 could interfere but would generally not be present in significant amounts in samples containing the fission product isotopes.1.3 This test method does not meet the cur-rent requirements of Practice D 2777.1.4 This standard may involve hazardous ma-terials,operations,and equipment.This standard does not purport to address all ofihe safety prob-lems associated with its use.it is the responsibil-ity ofthe user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applicability qf regulatory limitations prior to use.sion and Bias of Applicable Methods of Committee D-I9 on Water D 3370 Practices for Sampling Wate6 D3648 Practices for the Measurement of D 3649 Practice for High-Resolution Gamma-Radioactivity Ray Spectrometry of Water 3.Definitions 3.1 For definition of terms used in this test method,refer to Definitions D 1129.For terms not defined in this test method or in Definitions D 1129,reference may be made to other pub lished glossaries.4.Summary of Test Method 4.I Radioactive cesium is extracted.at pH 7.0.as cesium tetraphenylborate in amyl acetate with EDTA present to prevent the extraction of un-desired fission product activity.A known fraction of the organic phase is gammatounted in a standard vial.Recovery of radioactive cesium by this test method is quantitative.4.2 The cesium tetraphenyiborate solution i s gammacounted with a germanium detector and a gamma ray spectrum obtained using a multi-channel pulse height analyzer(see Practice D 3649).This spectrum is resolved into its Com-ponents.by graphical or algebraic methods,and the count rate due to each isotope is obtained.For absolute measurements the observed count 2.Referenced Documents 2.1 ASTM Standards:D 1066 Practice for Sampling Steam2 D 1129 Definitions of Terms Relating to D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water2 D2777 Practice for Determination of Preci-t Wate3 I This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Com-mittee D-19 on Water and is the direct responsibility ofSubcom-miftee DI 9.04 on Methods of Radiochemical Analysis.Current edition approved Oct.3 I.1986.Published Decemher 1986.Onghally published as D 2577-67 T.Last previous d i-tion D 2577-72(1981).Annual B d q/.SSTM Slondards,Vol I 1.O I.Annual 800k ufASTM Standards.Vol I I.Oz.ANSI Nl.1.G l o s s a r y of Terms in Nuclear Science and Technology.NOTICE:This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.Contact ASTM International(www.astm.org)for the latest information.9009276 0026073 43T rates are divided by the detector efficiencies for the isotopes concerned.The isotopes may be distinguished by the characteristics shown in the Appendix.4.3 For low level samples a beta counter may be used and the results reported in terms of cesium-137.4.4 This test method is based on a previously published method which contains a discussion on the effect of sodium ion on this extraction.5.Significance and Use 5.1 This test method may be applied to water samples,reactor coolant samples and bumup samples.Special modifications make the proce-dure more reliable for burnup samples.5.2 At very low levels some difficulties may arise in sampling due to the absorption of cesium on glass.In such samples a small amount of cesium sait,about 10&mL,may be added to the sample.5.3 This test method measures cesium present in a sample at the time of extraction.In reactor coolant samples or any other sample where xe-non precursors may be present such precursor effects must be considered when interpreting the results obtained.6.Interferences 6.1 Sodium ion in the sa