DOCUMENT RESUME,, A ED '170 1110 SE027 bill. 0 AUTHOR Thatcher, L.L. ;And Others 1 TITLE Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the United. States' Geblogical.Survey. Book 5, Laboratory, Analysis. Chapter- A5, Methodscr Dete-rmination of - Radioactive Substances in Water and Fluvial Sediments. INSTITUTION -Geological Survey (Dept,: .of Interior) ,Reston, PUB DATE 77 NO Tr 95p. ;For related document, see ED 131 218 AVAILABLE FRQM Super.intendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Off /ce , Washington, D.C. -20402(Stock Number 024- 0.01- 02928- 6:, No price quoted) */ FDRS PRICE MF01/PC04 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *ChemiCal Analysis; *Geolo'gy; *LaboratorTechniques; PhYsic; Pollution; Retource Materials; S.c ence Equipment; Water Pollution control IDENTIFIERS *RadioactiveVs- Substances; *Sediments; Water Quality ABSTkACT Analytical methods for determining important , tompbnents of fission and 'natural radioactivity found in water are reportedThe discussion of each method includes conditions for application of the method, a summary of the method, interferences, required apparatus, Procedures, calculations and estimation of precision. Isotopes considered are cesium-137, strontium-90, lead-210, radium-226. and 228, tritium, and carbon-714. `When two methods are in use for an isotope,- both methods are reported. Techniques for the collection and preservation of water samples to be anallze?d for radioactivity are also discuSsed.(CS) v. *********************************************************************** 4 Re. productions supplied by ERRS are the best that can :be made * * * T from theotigiRal document. a \ t 1*****************************;******4***************A***************,**Ii 1.1$ DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH, EDUCATION & INFLFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION _BEEN REPRO- THIS DOCUMENT HASRECEIVED FROM DUCED: EXACTLY AS ORIGIN- PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ATING IT POINTS OF VIEWOR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILYREPRE- INSTITUTE OF SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL EDUCATION POSITIONOR-POLICY CD -Techniques or Water-Resou rces Investigations ,, Of .the United States,GeOJogicalSurvey .00 r I Chapter A5- I METHODSFORDETERMINATION OFc. RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN WATER ANDFLUVIAL SEDIMENTS is / By L. L. Thatcher land 'V.pianzer, U.S. Geological Survey, and K: W. Edwards, Colorado. Schoolaf Mines 0 Book 5 RATOitY AN ..f(-6) e 'UNITED TC115 7.7P-414RTMENT OF THE INTERIOR r,CEPPIE, Secretary GEOLZGaICAL SURVEY ItItt=eivey, DretttOr', ti : UNITED STATEiC-OVERi .r RINTING OFFICE, WAS 1S377 V . For sale by-the SL:pertnte cumehts. U.S. _ang , fir n, D.C. 20402 \ : 024-001-02928-6 PREFACE meth used by '2e T is serifs of -lar12sorisrlkliescbs. Gologe. cal Survey olannin. tn,:,_=x.ecuting water -Tscr.-rces.finvestoz;..- tions. The mater.. -, gr-._:.ne;: u..,:te.ma .o..- sub;ect readin.-3 -called.'booE.-s and Is further su',-,- Diet::iri:.tetions s.-..: chapter Bonk 5 is on labors tory analysis. Se' )1..._ -:: water. Tlw ...-.1.: of pubilmtion, the chapte 44limited to a.na 7 -ow :.-__,..._ ( st.t.7,-;ect mi t.k,- Aethoosi f.:,kr determination of radioactive sutstance: in N' -..".tmitrt 11,tvial sediments'' is the fifth chap- ter to be publisht-a underect.,.,r., .' Flo t)lc 5. The chapter a..tunberincluds- the letter of the sectior7h. .. ".-..k4t1'.,' rrna.- of this rittx,vatkis manual .1 designed, to permit flex: -...-,i3O'.(37: Id c.blication. :.: -.;plements. he prepared as the nee( .-:,,,:-..,,-A- .. Itt:.-,.:..,-(1 o at no char.:, as they teconio availabi- III 4 CONTENTS. Page Pre . Preface III and beta radioactivity, dissolved .. Abstrar- 1 uspended. Residue method (R-1120-- j . 29 ( Introduzon 1. - 4- Pu__ose 1 Reference 5.- 32 (irilization 1 Lead-210, "dissol Cherpical )separation and 33 ., 7_ .-__.-2.ear data.i4(- .....-- 2 precipitation method (R-1130-76) - IV Urr,:s, symbo s, and abbFeviapions Referetice,1 37 gources of radioadtivity in water . 2 Radi lved, as radium-226.Precipi-4- Natural*: radioaCtivity 2 n method (R-1140-76) 39 '41 Artificial radioactivity' ... 3 Reference Permissible concentrations of radioactiv- Radium-226, dissolved. Ratonemanation ity in, effluents to unrestricted areas method. (R-1141-76) 43 Radiological safety 4 RefTrences 49 Geochemistry of radioactivity in water 4 Radium-228, dissolved. Determination by sepa- Carbon-14 4 ration' and counting of actinium-228 (R- Cesium -137" and cesium-1 '''.4 5 1142-76) .61 Lead-210 5 Reference. 54 .Radium 6 Radioruthenium, dissolved, as ruthenium-106. Ruthenium-106 and ruthenium-103 _ 7 Distillation method (R-1150-76) 55 Strontium-90 7 References 58 Tritium (hydrogen-3) '7 Strontium-90, dissolved. Chemical separation 8 ^ Uranium -, . and precipitation method (R-1160-76) __- 59 9 -ollection and, treatment of samples References 62 _olculations of radionuclide -concentrations _ _ 11 "stoilium. Liquid scintillation method, Denver Glossary 14 14 lab (R-1171-76) q3 Selected references 66 Principles of .rOioactivity, nuclear\ instru- Reference mentation . 14 Tritium. Liquid scintillation method, Reston Compilations of data: on radioactivity and lab "(R-1173-76) 67 71 radiochemistry 14 References Radioactivity iii/the environment 15 Tritium. Electrolytie enrichmentliquid scin- Radioisotope methods in hydrology. __ _ 15 tillation method, Denver lab' CR-1172-76) - 73 Radiochemical analytical tnethods 15 References 78 Radioactivity regulations and safety ._ 15 Tritium: Electrolytic enrichmentliquid scin- :references 16 tillation method, Reston lab (R-1174-76) _ 79 Carbon-14, dissolved, apparent_ ale. , Liquid References 17 81 scintillation method, Denver lab (R-1100 , Uranium, dissolved. .Fluprometric method 76) direct 1R-1180-76) 83 References 2 References -.0 88 Cesium-137 and cesium-13 ,dissolved. Inor- ganic ionexchange me ocl-gamma count- ' Uranium, ...dissolved. F/uorometric methodex- 23, traction procedure (R-1181-76) 89 ing (R-1110-76) References 92 References-- __ _, 25 ,Uranium, dissolved,isotopicratios.. Alpha . ed, as cesium-137. Thor- Ftadiocesium, disso AR- '. genic ion-exc ge filethodbeta counting spectrometrychemical separation (R-111146 27 1182-176) 93. Refere 28 Reference 95 - CT CONTENTS FIGU ). $ a I . .' . ) N 6 Ptge 1 '1.In-growth and decay of a daught6 .nuclide, significant time intervals _L,_,_ 13 2.Apparsitus for collection of carbonates from a water. sanhple 18 3. Vacuu4 line for prepaiation of acetylene and conversion to benzene 19 4.' Growth of bismuth-210 from pure lead-210 source .. 36 SI-"-- 5. Radon deemanation 'train and bubbler 44 6. Radon 'Scintillation cell and housing. .. 45 7. Apparatus for the distillation of . ruthenium tetroxide 66 8.Oltlund electrolysis cell . ..- :-'75 9.Stevens apparatus for fusion and Mixing of sample- and iux in uranium determination 84 10. Platinum dish. for use in Stevens apparatus ..,=. .011. Uranium calibration curve 86 . TABLES Pigs 1. Radon fraction (e-''') remaining after radioactive decay for specified times .. 48 2. Recommended sample volumes, minimum, and reduced volumes for isotopic uranium analysis 94 - r METHODS .F041 DETERM1444JMN OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES 4 WATEc, ,ND FLUVIAL SEDoMENTS By . Thaecnt ---,a Janzer, U.S. GeologicalSurvey. and 1( c-wards. Colorado School. of Mines oulastrar- referenced so that an expEriersceL radio- chemist could set upi the anz6.7ti'-r.._ met Analytical menucds :or tn.. _Aratiat of some w. of the mere imurz-=nt Compor-- neu- with rea,onable assurance or su2'ess. tronactivation radios tatural exceptior are the determinx=or tr, wt radioactity four water I ';'17".1. h P re- by gas cout.:.-..ug and the deterr" matif port for each arx,..:!ai metnc ..:at ns Beemuse of the Conapiexity ne for application ae meth°, . ,he )f ar 7-ag- equipment air.the extreme immort,A. method, interferte,etvps ,,dpa ru- ents,analytical.rutedure, ulation. rpc.rting certain. critics_ details in both of results, sad =nation srecisien. fission mentation and operating proced=--. at- product isotopes 7isidere, ceaitm. sr:rori- temp( to convey the fully detaileL,ir., tium-90, and ruth.--_urn-10_ nate*, maioete..,- procedure for direct dupli-ior. has ments. and isotope:-nsider '. ead-210' r.f. A probability for success: There is radium-226, radio- .28, :s.bor- -gross radioactivit- 7r -hoc uranium tute for actual operating experiencc. isotope ratio meths Jse Whe_ iislytical atories equipped for the gas,:ount.g deter methods are in roe us:, .% inc.: isotope, mination of tri.tum and the determ:Tiation or both methods are -1-zorted -v . n ofthe carbbn-14. For the above reason`, the de- speciftc areas- of :clues fcr scriptions of these two analytica prvcedure. the collection ant 7--fZeseivE _= Wimples:0 be analyzed for m=:..oactiv4.2,a concentrate on the principles am najor op- erating conditions 'involved. "Q. In several analytical methods. reagents on rgrroch...:tibn equipment are cited by propr-etary name. This is due tc inadequate iatormation on ?urls%ose chemical composition 'on which to base a chemical name. or to special requirements This :he cal meth- known to be met by the citad,reagent or ods used by -!--110..F °logical Survey for equipment. In every case equivalent products the collectior azai) sis of water samples 'that meet requirements may sp- substituted. for radioac: ubstances. The analytical No endorsement is intended. methods art- ---ndec-..)r the radicschemist who applies :truer- :se to the analysig of Organization water. Adel .r.rour ling in :he principles' and practices 1116-saiioc nernistry is assumed. Each determination-includes section on Therefore, sue,-flojeczs as nuclear instru- "Application,"