DIN EN ISO 13162 2015-11 PDF

Full title and description

STB DIN EN ISO 13162:2015-11 — Water quality — Determination of carbon 14 activity — Liquid scintillation counting method. German version of EN ISO 13162:2015 (identical to ISO 13162:2011) providing a laboratory procedure for measuring 14C activity concentration in water samples using liquid scintillation counting (LSC).

Abstract

This standard specifies a validated liquid scintillation counting (LSC) method to determine carbon‑14 (14C) activity concentrations in environmental and process waters. It describes the principle, required reagents and equipment, sampling and sample preparation, counting procedures, calibration and verification, calculation and reporting of results, and decision thresholds. The method applies to water samples that form a homogeneous mixture with the scintillation cocktail; samples containing large organic particulate matter or micelles require additional chemical preparation. EN ISO 13162:2015 is the European adoption of ISO 13162:2011 and was published as a national (German) version under the DIN designation DIN EN ISO 13162:2015-11.

General information

• Status: Superseded (replaced by DIN EN ISO 13162:2022-03 / EN ISO 13162:2021).
• Publication date: 2015-11 (DIN EN ISO edition: 2015-11).
• Publisher: Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) — German version of the CEN-adopted EN ISO text (original ISO work by ISO/TC 147).
• ICS / categories: 13.060.60 (Examination of physical properties of water), 17.240 (Radiation measurements).
• Edition / version: DIN EN ISO 13162:2015-11 (identical text to EN ISO 13162:2015 / ISO 13162:2011).
• Number of pages: 29 (DIN edition listing).

Scope

The document defines a test method for measuring 14C activity concentration by direct LSC or following chemical separation when necessary. It is intended for a wide range of waters (drinking water, surface water, groundwater, seawater, cooling and industrial waters, domestic and industrial wastewater) provided the sample can be homogenized with the scintillation cocktail. The method does not cover determination of organically bound 14C without prior chemical conversion (oxidation or combustion) nor samples with large particulate organic matter that prevent homogeneous mixing; such cases require extraction or alternative procedures described in informative annexes. Detection performance and practical detection limits depend on sample volume, instrument characteristics, counting time, background, counting efficiency and chemical recovery.

Key topics and requirements

• Principle of liquid scintillation counting for beta emission from 14C and requirements for suitable scintillation cocktails and vials.
• Reagents, calibration standards, equipment (LSC counters, vials, pipettes, balances) and quality control measures.
• Sampling, sample preservation and storage consistent with ISO 5667 series guidance.
• Sample preparation: direct counting for waters that mix homogeneously with cocktail; chemical separation or extraction procedures (informative annexes) for complex matrices or total organic carbon determinations.
• Counting procedure, calibration/verification, background correction, efficiency determination and calculation of activity concentration and uncertainty.
• Decision threshold, detection limit considerations and reporting requirements (test report contents).
• Limitations: not applicable to micelles or large particles that do not mix with the cocktail; detection capability depends on instrument and measurement conditions (later revision lowered practical detection limits with modern counters).

Typical use and users

Laboratories performing radiochemical and environmental water analysis, public health and water quality authorities, research institutes studying environmental radioactivity, nuclear facility monitoring laboratories, and industrial laboratories that need to measure 14C in process or cooling waters. The standard is used to set up validated procedures, demonstrate method competence, and ensure comparable results between laboratories.

Related standards

ISO 19361 / BS ISO 19361 (measurement of beta emitters by LSC), ISO 5667 series (water sampling guidance), ISO 11929 (limits and detection in radioactivity measurements), ISO/IEC 17025 (laboratory competence) and other CEN/ISO methods for radionuclide analysis. Later editions: EN ISO 13162:2021 / DIN EN ISO 13162:2022-03 supersede the 2015 edition.

Keywords

14C, carbon‑14, liquid scintillation counting, LSC, water quality, radionuclide analysis, radioactivity measurement, sample preparation, detection limit, decision threshold, calibration, ISO 13162, EN ISO 13162, DIN EN ISO 13162.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: It is DIN EN ISO 13162:2015-11 — the German/EN adoption of ISO 13162:2011, specifying a liquid scintillation counting method for determining carbon‑14 activity concentration in water samples.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the principle, required reagents and equipment, sampling and sample preparation, counting procedure, calibration and verification, calculation of activity concentration, decision thresholds and reporting for 14C analysis by LSC; it also describes limitations and informative extraction procedures for complex matrices.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Environmental and radiochemical testing laboratories, water authorities, research organisations, nuclear facility monitoring teams and other laboratories that measure 14C in water.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2015-11 DIN EN ISO 13162 edition is superseded — it has been replaced by the updated edition aligned with ISO 13162:2021, published as DIN EN ISO 13162:2022-03. Users should consult the 2021/2022 edition for the latest technical improvements and lower practical detection limits.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it sits within the ISO/CEN family of water analysis and radioactivity measurement standards and references related methods (ISO 5667 sampling series, ISO 19361 and ISO 11929) and general laboratory competence standards (ISO/IEC 17025).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Carbon‑14, 14C, liquid scintillation counting (LSC), water quality, radionuclide analysis, detection limit, decision threshold, calibration, ISO 13162, EN ISO 13162, DIN.