This test method is a fast, cost-effective method that can yield limited isotopic activity levels for ²³⁸U and ²³⁴U, as well as total uranium activity. Although ²³²U is incorporated as a tracer, uranium recoveries for this test measured during the developmental work on this test method were usually between 95 and 105%.

The high-resolution alpha-liquid-scintillation spectrometer offers a constant (99.6 ± 0.1) % counting efficiency and instrument backgrounds as low as 0.001 counts per minute (min^–1) over a 4 to 7 MeV energy range according to McDowell and McDowell (2). Count rates for extractive scintillator blanks and reagent blanks usually range from 0.01 min^–1 to 0.1 min^–1.

1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers determining the total soluble uranium activity in drinking water in the range of 0.037 Bq/L (1 pCi/L) or greater by selective solvent extraction and high-resolution alpha-liquid-scintillation spectrometry. The energy resolution obtainable with this technique also allows estimation of the ²³⁸U to ²³⁴U activity ratio.

1.2 This test method was tested successfully with reagent water and drinking water. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested matrices.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.4 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. For specific hazard statements, see Section 9.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D1129 Terminology Relating to Water

D1193 Specification for Reagent Water

D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water

D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits

D3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity

D5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications for Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis

D7282 Practice for Set-up, Calibration, and Quality Control of Instruments Used for Radioactivity Measurements

Keywords

drinking water; extractive scintillator; high-resolution alpha-liquid-scintillation spectrometer; pulse-shape discrimination; solvent extraction; radioactivity; uranium; Drinking water; Extractive scintillator; High-resolution alpha-liquid-scintillation spectrometer; Pulse-shape discrimination; Solvent extraction; Uranium content--water ;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 13.060.60 (Examination of water for physical properties)

Citing ASTM Standards

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