Standard Practice for Collection of Water Samples with High, Medium, or Low Suspended Solids for Identification and Quantification of Microplastic Particles and Fibers

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 When significant quantities of inorganic or organic material are present in water samples (high suspended solids), microplastic particles/fibers can be masked and the ability to conduct reliable identification and quantification analyses of the plastic particles/fibers can be impeded.  
5.2 In order to quantify the occurrence of microplastic particles/fibers in wastewater influent (high suspended solids), the sampling procedure must be able to reliably collect samples at a constant flow over the desired 24-hour interval to reflect changes in diurnal flow. For wastewater influent the capture flow rate should be no less than 1 GPM over the 24-hour interval (approximately 1440 gal or 5450 L total) to minimize the problem with heterogeneity of the suspended solids and to reduce the standard error (the larger the sample size, the smaller the standard error).  
5.3 In order to quantify the occurrence of microplastic particles/fibers in all other water samples with a lower content of inorganic or organic material present addressed by this practice (low to medium suspended solids), a minimum volume of 1500 L (approximately 400 gal) should be filtered through the appropriate filters or sieves to minimize potential issues with heterogeneity of suspended solids and to reduce the standard error (the larger the sample size, the smaller the standard error).  
5.4 Microplastic particles/fibers retained on the sieves are suitable for characterization in terms of size, shape, quantity, and composition (polymer type), dependent upon the chosen analytical method.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides for the collection of water samples with high, medium, or low suspended solids to determine the presence, count, polymer type, and physical characteristics of microplastic particles and fibers. This collection practice has been validated for the collection of samples from drinking water, surface waters, wastewater influent and effluent (secondary and tertiary), and marine waters. This practice is not limited to these particular water matrices; however, the applicability of this practice to other aqueous matrices must be demonstrated.  
1.2 Water samples are passed through filters or sieves of adequate mesh size to enable capture of the smallest desired particle size. For waters with high or medium suspended solids content, a series of sieves with increasingly smaller mesh size should be used to prevent clogging and allow for the collection of desired particle size fractions.  
1.3 Subsequent sample preparation followed by analysis utilizing either Pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), IR spectroscopy, or Raman spectroscopy may be used to identify the quantity (mass or number count) and composition (polymer type) of microplastic particles/fibers. The spectroscopic methods can provide a count of the number of particles and fibers present in a sample, and Py-GC/MS can provide the mass present in a sample. When desired, microplastic particle/fiber size, shape and surface characteristics can be ascertained with appropriate instruments such as a scanning electron microscope (SEM).  
1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard except where standard U.S. equipment is specified in imperial units, for example, inches and gallons. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.5 Standard Practice—This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This practice cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This practice is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this practice be applied without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to addre...

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Publication Date
14-Jul-2020
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ASTM D8332-20 - Standard Practice for Collection of Water Samples with High, Medium, or Low Suspended Solids for Identification and Quantification of Microplastic Particles and Fibers
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Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation:D8332 −20
Standard Practice for
Collection of Water Samples with High, Medium, or Low
Suspended Solids for Identification and Quantification of
1
Microplastic Particles and Fibers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8332; 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 practice cannot replace education or experience and should be
usedinconjunctionwithprofessionaljudgment.Notallaspects
1.1 This practice provides for the collection of water
of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This
samples with high, medium, or low suspended solids to
practice is not intended to represent or replace the standard of
determine the presence, count, polymer type, and physical
care by which the adequacy of a given professional service
characteristics of microplastic particles and fibers. This collec-
must be judged, nor should this practice be applied without
tion practice has been validated for the collection of samples
consideration of a project’s many unique aspects.
from drinking water, surface waters, wastewater influent and
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
effluent (secondary and tertiary), and marine waters. This
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
practice is not limited to these particular water matrices;
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
however, the applicability of this practice to other aqueous
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
matrices must be demonstrated.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.2 Water samples are passed through filters or sieves of
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
adequate mesh size to enable capture of the smallest desired
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
particle size. For waters with high or medium suspended solids
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
content, a series of sieves with increasingly smaller mesh size
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
should be used to prevent clogging and allow for the collection
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
of desired particle size fractions.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.3 Subsequent sample preparation followed by analysis
utilizing either Pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrom-
2. Referenced Documents
etry (Py-GC/MS), IR spectroscopy, or Raman spectroscopy 2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
may be used to identify the quantity (mass or number count)
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
and composition (polymer type) of microplastic particles/
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
fibers. The spectroscopic methods can provide a count of the
number of particles and fibers present in a sample, and
3. Terminology
Py-GC/MS can provide the mass present in a sample. When
3.1 Definitions:
desired, microplastic particle/fiber size, shape and surface
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
characteristics can be ascertained with appropriate instruments
Terminology D883.
such as a scanning electron microscope (SEM).
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
3.2.1 effluent, n—any stage of treated wastewater.
as the standard except where standard U.S. equipment is
3.2.2 influent, n—raw sewage entering a wastewater treat-
specified in imperial units, for example, inches and gallons. No
ment facility.
other units of measurement are included in this standard.
3.2.3 microplastic, n—any solid, synthetic organic poly-
1.5 Standard Practice—This practice offers a set of instruc-
meric material to which chemical additives or other substances
tions for performing one or more specific operations. This
may have been added, which are particles <5 mm in their
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and
2
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.06 on Methods for Analysis for For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Organic Substances in Water. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved July 15, 2020. Published August 2020. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
D8332-20. the ASTM website.
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