DOE: RP530: Selenium-79 in Aqueous Samples
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Official Method Name
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Determination of Selenium-79 in Aqueous Samples |
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Current Revision
| 1997 |
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Media
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WATER |
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Instrumentation
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Liquid Scintillation Counting |
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Method Subcategory
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Radiochemical |
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Method Source
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Citation
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Brief Method Summary
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A sample is treated to change the oxidation state of Se to a neutral molecular form. In this form, the Se passes through a mixed-bed ion exchange column that removes most other elements. A second purification of the sample is accomplished by precipitating the elemental Se after reduction with hydroxylamine hydrochloride. A distillation process also may be used to achieve more purification. The Se is dissolved in nitric acid and prepared for liquid scintillation counting (LSC). The chemical yield of Se can be determined gravimetrically or by elemental analysis of Se using inductive coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Se-79 activity is determined from beta-decay measurement by LSC. |
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Scope and Application
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This method determines the Se-79 activity in aqueous sample. |
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Applicable Concentration Range
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None given. |
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Interferences
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Beta emitters: Other beta emitters can interfere with the measurement of Se-79. Sample pretreatment will remove most interferences. |
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Quality Control Requirements
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Run one method blank per sample batch. Use a selenium spike to determine the recovery from the sample, and run duplicate samples to assess precision and recovery. |
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Sample Handling
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Water samples should be preserved to pH <2 with HNO3. Refrigeration is generally not required. |
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Maximum Holding Time
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Relative Cost
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$51 to $200 |
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Sample Preparation Methods
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