Work Item
ASTM WK60568

New Test Method for Rapid Radiochemical Determination of Alpha-Emitting Uranium Isotopes in Water

1. Scope

This test method is specifically for alpha-emitting soluble isotopes of uranium (uranium-234, uranium-235, uranium-236, and uranium-238) in drinking water and other aqueous samples. This test method is applicable to samples in which radioactive contamination is from either known or unknown origins. This method uses rapid radiochemical separations techniques for determining alpha-emitting uranium isotopes in water samples following a nuclear or radiological incident.

Keywords

uranium-234, uranium-235, uranium-236, uranium-238, extraction chromatography; alpha spectrometry; radioactivity; radiochemistry

Rationale

This test method uses rapid radiochemical separation techniques for determining uranium 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 U-234, U-235, U-236, and U-238 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, plutonium, strontium, and thorium.

The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within this ASTM Committee.

Details

Developed by Subcommittee: D19.04

Committee: D19

Staff Manager: Brian Milewski

Work Item Status

Date Initiated: 09-19-2017

Technical Contact: Charles Martin Johnson, Jr

Item: 004

Ballot: D19.04 (18-01)

Status: Will Reballot Item

Item: 003

Ballot: D19.04 (19-01)

Status: Negative Votes Need Resolution