ASTM D5954-22

Standard Test Method for Mercury Sampling and Measurement in Gaseous Fuels by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method can be used to measure the level of mercury in any gaseous fuel (as defined by Terminology D4150) for purposes such as determining compliance with regulations, studying the effect of various abatement procedures on mercury emissions, checking the validity of direct instrumental measurements, and verifying that mercury concentrations are below those required for gaseous fuel processing and operations.  
5.2 Adsorption of the mercury on gold-coated sorbent can remove interferences associated with the direct measurement of mercury in the presence of high concentrations of organic compounds. It preconcentrates the mercury before analysis, thereby offering measurement of ultra-low average concentrations in a gas stream over a long time span. It avoids the cumbersome use of liquid spargers with on-site sampling and eliminates contamination problems associated with the use of potassium permanganate solutions.5,6,7
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of total mercury in gaseous fuels at concentrations down to 0.5 ng/m3. It includes separate procedures for both sampling and atomic absorption spectrophotometric determination of mercury. This procedure detects both inorganic and organic forms of mercury.  
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.  
1.3 Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for additional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury or mercury containing products, or both, into your state or country may be prohibited by law.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns 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.  
1.5 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2022
• ICS: 13.040.01 - Air quality in general
• ICS: 71.040.50 - Physicochemical methods of analysis
• ICS: 75.060 - Natural gas
• Technical Committee: D03 - Gaseous Fuels

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: D5954 − 22
Standard Test Method for
Mercury Sampling and Measurement in Gaseous Fuels by
1
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5954; 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 D4150 Terminology Relating to Gaseous Fuels
3
2.2 USEPA Document:
1.1 This test method covers the determination of total
3
Method 1631, Revision E Mercury in Water by Oxidation,
mercury in gaseous fuels at concentrations down to 0.5 ng⁄m .
Purge and Trap, and Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence
It includes separate procedures for both sampling and atomic
Spectrometry. EPA-821-R-02-019. U.S. Environmental
absorption spectrophotometric determination of mercury. This
Protection Agency, Office of Water, August 2002
proceduredetectsbothinorganicandorganicformsofmercury.
4
2.3 Other Document:
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
40 CFR Part 136 Appendix B Definition and Procedure for
as the standard.
the Determination of the Method Detection Limit, Revi-
1.3 Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regu-
sion 2, EPA Office of Water, EPA 821-R-16-006
latory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause serious
medicalissues.Mercury,oritsvapor,hasbeendemonstratedto
3. Terminology
be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of general terms used in
should be taken when handling mercury and mercury contain-
D03 Gaseous Fuels standards, refer to Terminology D4150.
ing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
(SDS) for additional information. Users should be aware that
selling mercury or mercury containing products, or both, into 3.2.1 Detection Limit, n—a statistically derived value rep-
resenting the lowest quantity of analyte that can confidently be
your state or country may be prohibited by law.
distinguished from background signal.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.2 Limit of Quantification, n—the lowest value of analyte
safety concerns associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, whichcanbequantitativelydescribedandisrepresentedbythe
health, and environmental practices and determine the appli- lowest point on the calibration curve.
cability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.3 sorbent, n—a solid material that captures the analyte
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
(mercury) from a gaseous source for quantitative analysis and
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
is securely contained in sample tubes for sampling and
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
analysis.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.3 Abbreviations:
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.3.1 AAS—atomic absorption spectroscopy
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.3.2 TFE—tetrafluoroethylene
2. Referenced Documents
2 4. Summary of Test Method
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water 4.1 Mercury in a gas stream is adsorbed onto gold-coated
sorbent and subsequently directly desorbed by heat into a long
path-length, inert cell connected to an atomic absorption
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD03onGaseous
spectrophotometer. Mercury atoms are detected by measuring
Fuels and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D03.05 on Determination of
Special Constituents of Gaseous Fuels. their absorbance of light from a mercury source lamp at a
Current edition approved June 1, 2022. Published June 2022. Originally
characteristic wavelength. Analyte mass is determined by
ε1
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved 2014 as D5954 – 98(2014) .
DOI: 10.1520/D5954-22.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
3
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM AvailablefromUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(USEPA),1200
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460, https://www.epa.gov.
4
the ASTM website. Available from https://www.ecfr.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D5954 − 22
meter should be and in some applications may be required to be calibrated
comparing the instrument response of the unknown sample to
against a NIST-traceable reference ga
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation: D5954 − 98 (Reapproved 2014) D5954 − 22
Standard Test Method for
Mercury Sampling and Measurement in Natural GasGaseous
1
Fuels by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5954; 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
ε NOTE—Mercury caveat was added editorially to the Scope in April 2014.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of total mercury in natural gasgaseous fuels at concentrations down to 1
3
0.5 ng ng/m⁄m . It includes separate procedures for both sampling and atomic absorption spectrophotometric determination of
mercury. TheThis procedure detects both inorganic and organic forms of mercury.
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.3 Warning: Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause
serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution
should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for
additional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury or mercury containing products, or both, into your state or
country may be prohibited by law.Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause
serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution
should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for
additional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury and/or mercury containing products into your state or country
may be prohibited by law.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, concerns associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D4150 Terminology Relating to Gaseous Fuels
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D03 on Gaseous Fuels and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D03.05 on Determination of
Special Constituents of Gaseous Fuels.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2006June 1, 2022. Published April 2014June 2022. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved 20062014 as
ε1
D5954–98(2006).D5954 – 98(2014) . DOI: 10.1520/D5954-98R14.10.1520/D5954-22.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5954 − 22
3
2.2 USEPA Document:
Method 1631, Revision E Mercury in Water by Oxidation, Purge and Trap, and Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry.
EPA-821-R-02-019. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, August 2002
4
2.3 Other Document:
40 CFR Part 136 Appendix B Definition and Procedure for the Determination of the Method Detection Limit, Revision 2, EPA
Office of Water, EPA 821-R-16-006
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of general terms used in D03 Gaseous Fuels standards, refer to Terminology D4150.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 Detection Limit, n—a statistically derived value representing the lowest quantity of analyte that can confidently be
distinguished from background signal.
3.2.2 Limit of Quantification, n—the lowest value of analyte which can be quantitatively described and is represente
...