ASTM D8026-16 PDF

Full title and description

Standard Practice for Determination of Tc-99 in Water by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP‑MS). This practice describes separation and concentration of technetium from water samples by extraction chromatography using rhenium as a chemical tracer and quantification of 99Tc by measuring the technetium-to-rhenium ratio with ICP‑MS.

Abstract

This short practice (four pages) offers an alternative radiochemical procedure for determining technetium‑99 in aqueous matrices. Samples are oxidized to convert Tc to the pertechnetate form, passed through an extraction‑chromatography column to co‑extract Tc and an added Re tracer, and the Tc/Re ratio is measured by ICP‑MS to calculate 99Tc concentration. The method was developed for environmental monitoring around nuclear facilities and to provide results comparable to liquid scintillation methods such as Test Method D7168.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (withdrawal recorded in 2025; no replacement listed).
• Publication date: February 15, 2016 (Designation D8026‑16).
• Publisher: ASTM International.
• ICS / categories: 13.060.60 — Examination of physical properties of water.
• Edition / version: D8026‑16 (2016 edition).
• Number of pages: 4 pages.

(Status, publication date, committee and page count reported in the document summary and standards listings.)

Scope

This practice covers the chemical separation, concentration, and instrumental measurement steps required to determine 99Tc in water: addition of a known quantity of rhenium tracer, chemical oxidation of the sample (to convert Tc to TcO4–), extraction chromatography on a resin column to retain Tc/Re, elution and co‑measurement by ICP‑MS, and back‑calculation of 99Tc concentration from the measured Tc/Re ratio. It is presented as an alternative to Test Method D7168 (liquid scintillation or other radiochemical approaches) with comparable detection capability for environmental monitoring applications.

Key topics and requirements

• Use of extraction chromatography resin to separate Tc from matrix interferences.
• Addition of rhenium (Re) as an internal tracer to correct yield and instrument response.
• Sample oxidation (for example with peroxide) to ensure Tc is present as pertechnetate (TcO4–) prior to extraction.
• Measurement of Tc/Re ratio by ICP‑MS and calculation of 99Tc concentration from that ratio.
• Consideration of interferences, detection limits, and quality‑assurance checks to achieve results comparable to D7168.

Typical use and users

Radiochemistry and environmental testing laboratories, regulatory monitoring programs, nuclear facility environmental compliance groups, and researchers concerned with radionuclide monitoring in surface water, groundwater, and effluent streams. The practice is aimed at experienced laboratories equipped with ICP‑MS capabilities and personnel trained in radiochemical separations and handling of radioactive samples.

Related standards

Closely related and referenced documents include ASTM Test Method D7168 (measurement of 99Tc in water by alternative radiochemical approaches and liquid scintillation), Guide C1387 (determination of 99Tc in soil), and relevant ASTM radiochemical/terminology standards cited in the practice. These provide complementary procedures, sample preparation guidance, and terminology.

Keywords

technetium‑99, 99Tc, ICP‑MS, extraction chromatography, rhenium tracer, pertechnetate, radiochemical analysis, environmental monitoring, water testing.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM D8026‑16 is a short practice describing a radiochemical/ICP‑MS procedure for determining technetium‑99 in water samples using extraction chromatography and a rhenium tracer.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sample oxidation, tracer addition, extraction‑chromatography column separation, elution, and measurement of the Tc/Re ratio by ICP‑MS to calculate 99Tc concentration; it is positioned as an alternative to Test Method D7168.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Environmental and radiochemistry laboratories, nuclear site monitoring teams, and researchers with access to ICP‑MS instrumentation and experience in radiochemical separations.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The practice was published in 2016 as D8026‑16 and later recorded as withdrawn in 2025; listings indicate it was withdrawn with no direct replacement noted. Users should confirm current accepted procedures or alternatives (for example D7168 and Guide C1387) for regulatory or compliance use.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It falls under ASTM Committee D19 (Water) and is associated with other radiochemical methods and guides for 99Tc analysis (e.g., D7168, Guide C1387) as part of ASTM's suite of water/radiochemical standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Technetium‑99, 99Tc, ICP‑MS, extraction chromatography, rhenium tracer, pertechnetate, radiochemistry, water analysis.