EPA-NERL: 903.1: Radium-226 in Drinking Water
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Official Method Name
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Radium-226 in Drinking Water (Radon Emanation Technique) |
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Current Revision
| August 1980 |
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Media
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WATER |
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Instrumentation
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Alpha Scintillation |
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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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The radium-226 in the drinking water sample is concentrated and separated by coprecipitation on barium sulfate. The precipitate is dissolved in EDTA reagent, placed in a sealed bubbler and stored for ingrowth of radon-222. After ingrowth, the gas is purged into a scintillation cell. When the short-lived radon-222 daughters are in equilibrium with the parent (4h), the scintillation cell is counted for alpha activity. |
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Scope and Application
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This method covers the measurement of radium-226 in drinking water samples. This method is specific for radium-226, and is based on the emanation and scintillation counting of radon-222, a daughter product of radium-226. |
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Applicable Concentration Range
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None given. |
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Interferences
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(1) Voids above the bubbler must be kept very small. (2) Build-up of radon daughter products in the cell. (3) Cell background. |
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Quality Control Requirements
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Not Included |
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Sample Handling
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See Section 3 of Method 900.0. |
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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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