ASTM: D5811: Strontium-90 in Water

Summary
Analytes
Revision
Data and Sites

Official Method Name

Standard Test Method for Strontium-90 in Water

Current Revision

Current edition approved July 10, 2000. Originally published as D5811-95.

Media

WATER

Instrumentation

Beta Gas Proportional Counter

Method Subcategory

Radiochemical

Method Source

ASTM

Citation

Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Section 11, Water and Environmental Technology, Volume 11.02, Water (I)

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 Concentration 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.

Quality Control 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.

Maximum Holding Time

Relative Cost

Unknown

Sample Preparation Methods

This method has 1 analyte associated with it.

Analyte	Detection Level	Bias	Precision	Pct False Positive	Pct False Negative	Spiking Level
Strontium-90(10098-97-2) 90Sr Sr-90 Strontium, isotope of mass 90 Strontium-90	0.037 Bq/L	104% Rec (ML)	9.50			0.21 Bq/L

Precision Descriptor Notes:	The collaborative test conducted on this test method included eleven laboratories, each with one operator. Three radioactivity levels, 0.21 Bq/L (5.8 pCi/L), 1.52 Bq/L (41.1 pCi/L), and 4.05 Bq/L (109.5 pCi/L), were tested with three replicates per level. Two laboratories' data were omitted as statistical outliers. NOTE: These collaborative test data were obtained using 1 L of tapwater available at each laboratory site.
Detection Level Note:	None.

Precision Descriptor Notes:

The collaborative test conducted on this test method included eleven laboratories, each with one operator. Three radioactivity levels, 0.21 Bq/L (5.8 pCi/L), 1.52 Bq/L (41.1 pCi/L), and 4.05 Bq/L (109.5 pCi/L), were tested with three replicates per level. Two laboratories' data were omitted as statistical outliers. NOTE: These collaborative test data were obtained using 1 L of tapwater available at each laboratory site.

Detection Level Note:

None.

Revision	PDF/Link
Current edition approved July 10, 2000. Originally published as D5811-95.

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ASTM: D5811: Strontium-90 in Water

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