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1.1 This practice is applicable to the determination of low concentration and trace elements in aqueous leachate solutions produced by the leaching of nuclear waste materials, using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES).

1.2 The nuclear waste material may be a simulated (non-radioactive) solid waste form or an actual solid radioactive waste material.

1.3 The leachate may be deionized water or any natural or simulated leachate solution containing less than 1 % total dissolved solids.

1.4 This practice should be used by analysts experienced in the use of ICP-AES, the interpretation of spectral and non-spectral interferences, and procedures for their correction.

1.5 No detailed operating instructions are provided because of differences among various makes and models of suitable ICP-AES instruments. Instead, the analyst shall follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the particular instrument. This test method does not address comparative accuracy of different devices or the precision between instruments of the same make and model.

1.6 This practice contains notes that are explanatory and are not part of the mandatory requirements of the method.

1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

5.1 This practice may be used to determine concentrations of elements leached from nuclear waste materials (glasses, ceramics, cements) using an aqueous leachant. If the nuclear waste material is radioactive, a suitably contained and shielded ICP-AES spectrometer system with a filtered exit-gas system must be used, but no other changes in the practice are required. The leachant may be deionized water or any aqueous solution containing less than 1 % total solids.

5.2 This practice as written is for the analysis of solutions containing 1 % nitric acid. It can be modified to specify the use of the same or another mineral acid at the same or higher concentration. In such cases, the only change needed in this practice is to substitute the preferred acid and concentration value whenever 1 % nitric acid appears here. It is important that the acid type and content of the reference and check solutions closely match the leachate solutions to be analyzed.

5.3 This practice can be used to analyze leachates from static leach testing of waste forms using Test Method C1220.