ASTM D4129-05

Standard Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water by High Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric Detection

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method is necessary because of the need for rapid reliable tests for carbonaceous material in waters and sediments.  
It is used for determining the concentration of organic carbon in water that comes from a variety of natural, domestic, and industrial sources. Typically, these measurements are used to monitor organic pollutants in domestic and industrial waste water.
When a sample is homogenized so that particulate, immiscible phases, and dissolved carbon from both organic and inorganic sources is determined, the measurement is called total carbon (TC). When inorganic carbon response is eliminated by removing the dissolved CO2 prior to the analysis or the dissolved CO2 concentration subtracted from the total carbon concentration, the measurement is called total organic carbon (TOC). When particulates and immiscible phases are removed prior to analysis the measurement is called dissolved carbon (DC), or dissolved organic carbon (DOC) if inorganic carbon response has been eliminated.
Homogenizing or sparging of a sample, or both, may cause loss of volatile organics, thus yielding a negative error. The extent and significance of such losses must be evaluated on an individual basis. If significant quantities of volatile carbonaceous materials are present or may be present in samples organic carbon should be determined by the difference between the total carbon and the inorganic carbon concentrations. When organic carbon determined both by difference and by sparging agree it is acceptable to determine organic carbon by sparging for similar samples.
The relationship of TOC to other water quality parameters such as COD and BOD is described in the literature.5
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of total and organic carbon in water and waste water, including brackish waters and brines in the range from 2 to 20000 mg/L. This test method has the advantages of a wide range of concentration which may be determined without sample dilution and the provision for boat or capillary introduction of samples containing sediments and particulate matter where syringe injection is inappropriate.
1.2 This procedure is applicable only to that carbonaceous matter in the sample that can be introduced into the reaction zone. When syringe injection is used to introduce samples into the combustion zone, the syringe needle opening size limits the maximum size of particles that can be present in samples. Sludge and sediment samples must be homogenized prior to sampling with a micropipetor or other appropriate sampler and ladle introduction into the combustion zone is required.
1.3 The precision and bias information reported in this test method was obtained in collaborative testing that included waters of the following types: distilled, deionized, potable, natural, brine, municipal and industrial waste, and water derived from oil shale retorting. Since the precision and bias information reported may not apply to waters of all matrices, it is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method on samples of other matrices.
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. For specific precautionary statements, see and .

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2005
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.06 - Methods for Analysis for Organic Substances in Water

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4129-98(2003) - Standard Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water by High Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric Detection
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D3694-96(2017) - Standard Practices for Preparation of Sample Containers and for Preservation of Organic Constituents
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D5975-17 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Stability of Compost by Measuring Oxygen Consumption
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D7475-20 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Aerobic Degradation and Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials under Accelerated Bioreactor Landfill Conditions
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D6691-17 - Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Marine Environment by a Defined Microbial Consortium or Natural Sea Water Inoculum
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D4839-03(2017) - Standard Test Method for Total Carbon and Organic Carbon in Water by Ultraviolet, or Persulfate Oxidation, or Both, and Infrared Detection
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D5988-18 - Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in Soil
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D5526-18 - Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Accelerated Landfill Conditions
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D5173-15(2023) - Standard Guide for On-Line Monitoring of Total Organic Carbon in Water by Oxidation and Detection of Resulting Carbon Dioxide
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D5359-98(2021) - Standard Specification for Glass Cullet Recovered from Waste for Use in Manufacture of Glass Fiber
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D5338-15(2021) - Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting Conditions, Incorporating Thermophilic Temperatures
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D5511-18 - Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM F1581-08(2020) - Standard Specification for Composition of Anorganic Bone for Surgical Implants
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005

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:D4129–05
Standard Test Method for
Total and Organic Carbon in Water by High Temperature
1
Oxidation and by Coulometric Detection
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4129; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This test method covers the determination of total and 2.1 ASTM Standards:
organic carbon in water and waste water, including brackish D513 Test Methods for Total and Dissolved Carbon Diox-
watersandbrinesintherangefrom2to20 000mg/L.Thistest ide in Water
method has the advantages of a wide range of concentration D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
which may be determined without sample dilution and the D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
provision for boat or capillary introduction of samples contain- D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
ing sediments and particulate matter where syringe injection is D3856 Guide for Good Laboratory Practices in Laborato-
3
inappropriate. ries Engaged in Sampling and Analysis of Water
1.2 This procedure is applicable only to that carbonaceous D4210 Practice for Intralaboratory Quality Control Proce-
43
matter in the sample that can be introduced into the reaction dures and a Discussion on Reporting Low-Level Data
zone. When syringe injection is used to introduce samples into D5789 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications
4
thecombustionzone,thesyringeneedleopeningsizelimitsthe for Standard Test Methods for Organic Constituents
maximum size of particles that can be present in samples.
3. Terminology
Sludge and sediment samples must be homogenized prior to
sampling with a micropipetor or other appropriate sampler and 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
method, refer to Terminology D1129.
ladle introduction into the combustion zone is required.
1.3 The precision and bias information reported in this test
4. Summary of Test Method
method was obtained in collaborative testing that included
4.1 The sample is homogenized or diluted, or both, as
waters of the following types: distilled, deionized, potable,
necessary. If the sample does not contain suspended particles
natural, brine, municipal and industrial waste, and water
or high-salt level a 0.200-mL portion is injected into the
derived from oil shale retorting. Since the precision and bias
reactionzone.Forsamplescontainingsolidsorhighsaltlevels,
information reported may not apply to waters of all matrices, it
portions are placed in combustion boats containing tungsten
is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this test
trioxide (WO ) or quartz capillaries and introduced into the
method on samples of other matrices.
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reaction zone using a ladle. In the reaction zone the heat,
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
oxidation catalyst and oxygen atmosphere convert carbona-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ceous matter to carbon dioxide (CO ). The oxygen gas stream
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2
sweeps the gaseous reaction products through a series of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
scrubbers for potentially interfering gases and then to the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
absorption/titration cell. The CO is determined by automatic
precautionary statements, see 9.1 and 10.2.1.
2
coulometric titration. Calibration by testing known carbon
content standards is not required, however, standards are
analyzed periodically to confirm proper operation.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD19.06onMethodsforAnalysisfor Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Organic Substances in Water. the ASTM website.
3
Current edition approved March 1, 2005. Published March 2005. Originally Withdrawn.
4
approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D4129 – 98 (2003). Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
DOI: 10.1520/D4129-05. on www.astm.org.
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D4129–05
FIG. 1 Total Carbon and TOC Apparatus
4.2 Carbon dioxide is liberated from carbonates as well as 5.4 Homogenizing or sparging
...