ASTM D3875-03

Standard Test Method for Alkalinity in Brackish Water, Seawater, and Brines

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Alkalinity as carbonate and bicarbonate of saline water is very important in chemical waterflooding or tertiary recovery processes for recovering petroleum. Alkaline waters offer better wetting to the formation rock and improve oil release. As an additional benefit, ions that provide alkalinity adsorb on rock surfaces occupying adsorption sites and decrease the loss of recovery chemical by adsorption. Determination of alkalinity in waters used in tertiary recovery processes is therefore very important.
An alkalinity value is necessary in the calculation of carbonate scaling tendencies of saline waters. It is also necessary to determine the alkalinity if the ionic balance of a water analysis is to be used as a check of the reliability of the analysis.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of alkalinity in brackish water, seawater, and brines.
1.2 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Aug-2003
• ICS: 13.060.50 - Examination of water for chemical substances
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.05 - Inorganic Constituents in Water

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D3875-97 - Standard Test Method for Alkalinity in Brackish Water, Seawater, and Brines
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM D3875-08 - Standard Test Method for Alkalinity in Brackish Water, Seawater, and Brines
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D 3875–03
Standard Test Method for
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Alkalinity in Brackish Water, Seawater, and Brines
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3875; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* an additional benefit, ions that provide alkalinity adsorb on
rock surfaces occupying adsorption sites and decrease the loss
1.1 This test method covers the determination of alkalinity
of recovery chemical by adsorption. Determination of alkalin-
in brackish water, seawater, and brines.
ity in waters used in tertiary recovery processes is therefore
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
very important.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5.2 An alkalinity value is necessary in the calculation of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
carbonate scaling tendencies of saline waters. It is also neces-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
sary to determine the alkalinity if the ionic balance of a water
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
analysis is to be used as a check of the reliability of the
2. Referenced Documents analysis.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
6. Interferences
2
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
2 6.1 Anions other than bicarbonate, carbonate, or hydroxide
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
ions that form weakly dissociated acids that participate in
D 3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Con-
2
hydrolysis reactions may also contribute to the alkalinity as
duits
may some organic materials. The user of this test method on
D 5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications
3
determining the alkalinity is cautioned that all the effects of the
for Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis
anions entering into hydrolysis reactions are combined and
E 200 Practice for Preparation, Standardization, and Stor-
reported as an equivalent amount of a single substance or two
age of Standard and Reagent Solutions for Chemical
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postulated ions. Included in the reported value is the alkalinity
Analysis
resulting from the presence of borate, silicate, sulfide, and
3. Terminology
phosphate. The effect of borate on the alkalinity value is
considered negligible for waters with pH values of 7 or less.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
method, refer to Terminology D 1129.
7. Apparatus
4. Summary of Test Method
7.1 Electrotitrator or Standard pH Meter with suitable
electrodes. Maintenance and standardization of electrodes and
4.1 An electrotitrator or pH meter is used to determine the
pH meter should follow manufacturer’s instructions because
amount of acid necessary to reach pH 8.1 and 4.5, respectively.
performance can be affected by improper treatment.
ThepHvaluesapproximatethepointswherethehydroxideand
7.2 Buret, 10-mL micro.
bicarbonate ions are neutralized.
8. Reagents
5. Significance and Use
8.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
5.1 Alkalinity as carbonate and bicarbonate of saline water
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
is very important in chemical waterflooding or tertiary recov-
all reagents shall conform to the specifications of the Commit-
ery processes for recovering petroleum. Alkaline waters offer
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tee onAnalytical Reagents of theAmerican Chemical Society,
betterwettingtotheformationrockandimproveoilrelease.As
where such specifications are available. Other grades may be
used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.05 on Inorganic Constituents
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in Water. Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American
Current edition approved Aug. 10, 2003. Published September 2003. Originally Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not
approved in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as D 3875 – 97. listed by the American Chemical Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset, U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02. and National Formulary, U.S. Pharmaceutical Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville,
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.05. MD.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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D 3875–03
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