NEMI Method Summary

Method Summary Information

Method Number: D5811 Media: WATER
Revision: Current edition approved July 10, 2000. Originally published as D5811-95.
Method Source: ASTM International
Subcategory: RADIOCHEMICAL Analytes in this method
Official Name: Standard Test Method for Strontium-90 in Water
Descriptive Name Strontium-90 in Water
Source Info: ASTM International
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Citation: ASTM Volume 11.02
 
Brief Method
Summary:
 This test method is based on the utilization of solid phase extraction of strontium from water samples with detection of the radioactive strontium by gross beta gas proportional counting.
An aliquant of the sample is measured into a beaker, strontium carrier added, digested with nitric acid, sorbed on an ion exchange column, eluted, evaporated to dryness, dissolved in nitric acid (8M), selectively sorbed on a solid phase extraction column, eluted with dilute nitric acid, dried on a planchet, and counted for beta radiation.
Scope And
Application:
 This test method covers the determination of radioactive 90Sr in environmental water samples (for example, non-process and effluent waters) in the range of 0.037 Bq/L (1.0 pCi/L) or greater.
Applicable
Conc Range:
 0.037 and greater Bq/L
Interferences: Significant amounts of stable strontium present in the sample will interfere with the yield determination. If it is known or suspected that natural strontium is present in the sample, blank sample aliquots to which no strontium carrier is added shall be analyzed to determine the natural strontium content. The amount of natural strontium contained in the sample shall be used to correct the yield.
Strontium-89 present in the sample will cause a high bias in proportion to the 89Sr/ 90Sr ratio. This technique is not applicable when it is suspected or known that 89Sr is present in the sample.
Strontium nitrate (Sr(NO3)2) is hygroscopic. This chemical property may add uncertainty in the gravimetric yield determination.
QC Requirements: The project leader, as part of the external quality control program, shall submit blind quality control samples to the analyst along with routine samples. These external quality control samples, which usually include duplicate and blank samples, shall test sample collection and preparation as well as sample analysis whenever possible. In addition, analysts are expected to run internal quality control samples that will indicate to them whether the analytical procedures are in control. Both the external and internal quality control samples need to be prepared in such a way as to duplicate the chemical matrix of the routine samples, insofar as this is practical. The quality control samples that are routinely used consist of four basic types: blank samples, replicate samples, reference materials, and "spiked" samples.
Sample Handling: Collect a sample in accordance with Practice D 3370.
Max Holding Time:
 
Relative Cost: Unknown
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