Work Item
ASTM WK60567
New Test Method for Rapid Radiochemical Determination of Plutonium-238 and Plutonium-239/240 in Water
1. Scope
1.1 This test method is specifically for 238Pu and 239/240Pu in drinking water and other aqueous samples. The presence of 242Pu in the water sample will bias the results obtained by this method. 1.2 This test method is applicable to samples in which radioactive contamination is from either known or unknown origins. If any filtration of the sample is performed before starting the analysis, those solids should be analyzed separately. The results from the analysis of these solids should be reported separately (as a suspended activity concentration for the water volume filtered) but identified with the filtrate results. 1.3 This test method is applicable to the determination of soluble 238Pu and 239/240Pu. This test method is not applicable to the determination of 238Pu and 239/240Pu in highly insoluble particulate matter possibly present in water samples contaminated as a result of a radiological dispersion device (RDD) event. 1.4 This test method uses rapid radiochemical separation techniques for determining plutonium in water samples following a radiological or nuclear incident. 1.5 Units-The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. 1.6 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.
Keywords
plutonium-238; plutonium-239; plutonium-239/240; plutonium-240; extraction chromatography; alpha spectrometry; radioactivity; radiochemistry
Rationale
This test method uses rapid radiochemical separation techniques for determining plutonium in water samples and is suitable for use following a radiological or nuclear incident. This test method is considered a rapid method when compared to other classical methods for the determination of 238Pu and 239/240Pu in aqueous solutions. A batch of test samples plus quality control samples can be chemically processed in ~7.5 h. This test method can be combined with other rapid radiochemical methods to accomplish sequential separation of a single test sample aliquant for isotopes of americium, strontium, thorium, and uranium.
The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within this ASTM Committee.
Work Item Status
Date Initiated: 09-19-2017
Technical Contact: Donivan Porterfield
Item: 002
Ballot: D19.04 (19-01)
Status: Negative Votes Need Resolution
Item: 005
Ballot: D19.04 (18-01)
Status: Will Reballot Item