ASTM D4913-00(2011)

Standard Practice for Determining Concentration of Hydrogen Sulfide by Direct Reading, Length of Stain, Visual Chemical Detectors

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
General—Hydrogen sulfide is nearly ubiquitous. It occurs naturally in volcanic gases, in sulfur springs and fumaroles, in decaying of plant and animal protein, and in intestines as a result of bacterial action. Hydrogen sulfide is a serious hazard to the health of workers employed in energy production from hydrocarbon or geothermal sources, in the production of fibers and sheets from viscose syrup, in the production of deuterium oxide (heavy water), in tanneries, sewers, sewage treatment and animal waste disposal, in work below ground, on fishing boats, and in chemical operations, including the gas and oil industry.
In 29 CFR 1910.1000, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration designates that worker exposure to certain gases and vapors must not be exceeded in workplace atmospheres at concentrations above specific values, averaged over a certain time span. Hydrogen sulfide is included in this list. Refer also to NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended Standard, Occupational Exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide.
This practice will provide means for the determination of airborne concentrations of hydrogen sulfide.
This practice provides means for either personal or area sampling and for short-term or time-weighted average (TWA) measurements. Refer to Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances in the Work Environment.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the detection of hydrogen sulfide gas by visual chemical detectors. Included under visual chemical detectors are: short-term detector tubes (1), long-term detector tubes (2), and length-of-stain dosimeters (3). Diffusion tubes are not included under this practice because they are not direct reading, and spot tests are not included because of their poor accuracy. The sample results are immediately available by visual observation, thus no analytical equipment is needed.
1.2 This practice reflects the current state-of-the-art for commercially available visual length-of-stain detectors for hydrogen sulfide. Any mention of a specific manufacturer in the text or references does not constitute an endorsement by ASTM.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
1.4 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: 28-Feb-2011
• ICS: 71.060.99 - Other inorganic chemicals
• Technical Committee: D22 - Air Quality
• Drafting Committee: D22.04 - Workplace Air Quality

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:D4913 −00(Reapproved 2011)
Standard Practice for
Determining Concentration of Hydrogen Sulfide by Direct
Reading, Length of Stain, Visual Chemical Detectors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4913; 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 D4599 Practice for Measuring the Concentration of Toxic
Gases or Vapors Using Length-of-Stain Dosimeters
1.1 This practice covers the detection of hydrogen sulfide
2.2 Other Documents:
gas by visual chemical detectors. Included under visual chemi-
CFR 1910.1000 Federal Occupational Safety and Health
cal detectors are: short-term detector tubes (1), long-term
Standard Title 29, Part 1910.1000, Subpart Z, and Part
detectortubes (2),andlength-of-staindosimeters (3).Diffusion
1926.55, Subpart D
tubes are not included under this practice because they are not
NIOSH CriteriaforaRecommendedStandard,Occupational
direct reading, and spot tests are not included because of their
Exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide, 1977
pooraccuracy.Thesampleresultsareimmediatelyavailableby
Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances in the
visual observation, thus no analytical equipment is needed.
Work Environment Adopted by the American Conference
1.2 This practice reflects the current state-of-the-art for
of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, latest issue
commercially available visual length-of-stain detectors for
2.3 ANSI Standard:
hydrogen sulfide. Any mention of a specific manufacturer in
ANSI/ISEA 102–1990(R1998) Gas Detector Tube Units-
the text or references does not constitute an endorsement by
Short-Term Type for Toxic Gases and Vapors in Working
ASTM.
Environments
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard.
3. Terminology
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
method, refer to Terminology D1356.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4. Summary of Practice
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.1 In general, the length-of-stain visual detectors described
in this practice consist of a sealed glass tube filled with a
2. Referenced Documents
reactive chemical dispersed on a granular material or a paper
2.1 ASTM Standards:
strip.This reactive material is sensitive to hydrogen sulfide and
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
changes color upon exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas. These
Atmospheres
detectors are designed so that the length of the color change in
D3686 Practice for Sampling Atmospheres to Collect Or-
the tube is related to the concentration of hydrogen sulfide
ganic Compound Vapors (Activated Charcoal Tube Ad-
under conditions of sampling volume or sampling time speci-
sorption Method)
fied by the manufacturer. These detectors are typically cali-
D4490 Practice for Measuring the Concentration of Toxic
brated by the manufacturer on an individual lot basis. Three
Gases or Vapors Using Detector Tubes
general types of detectors are in current use.
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.04 on WorkplaceAir Quality. Code of Federal Regulations, available from the U.S. Government Printing
Current edition approved March 1, 2011. Published March 2011. Originally Office Superintendent of Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE,
´1
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D4913 - 05 . DOI: Washington, DC 20401.
10.1520/D4913-00R11. Available from National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161, http://www.ntis.gov.
this standard practice. Available from American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists,
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Inc. (ACGIH), 1330 Kemper Meadow Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45240, http://
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM www.acgih.org.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D4913−00 (2011)
4.1.1 Short-Term Detector Tubes—A given volume of air 6.2.2 The Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) has a voluntary
(specified by the manufacturer) is pulled through the tube by a certification program for short-term detector tubes for hydro-
pump in a time period on the order of 1 to 10 min. The gen sulfide. This program consists of independent laboratory
length-of-stain is related to the amount of air sampled and the verification of sampling pump precision and of detector tube
hydrogen sulfide concentration during the sample period. performance. The pump and tube units certified under this
4.1.2 Long-Term Detector Tubes—The air sample is pulled program are listed in the SEI Approved Equipment List. The
through the tube at a slower, constant flow rate (specified by certification test protocol is similar to that used in the now
the manufacturer) by an electrical pump over a 1- to 8-h time discontinued NIOSH Certification Program (11,12,13).
period. The length of color change and the sampling time are
6.2.3 In some sampling situations, particularly when testing
used to estimate the time weighted average (TWA) concentra- for hazardous hydrogen sulfide concentrations in confined
tion of hydrogen sulfide.
spaces, a remote sampling line and adapter can be used. This
4.1.3 Length-of-Stain Dosimeter Tubes—This detector type allows placement of the detector tube in the potentially
samples the atmosphere to be tested by diffusion; no pump is
hazardous area to be tested while the operator is in a safer area.
required. Sampling times are on the order of 1 to 8 h and the
6.3 Procedure:
stain length as a function of sampling time is related to the
6.3.1 Carefully follow the instruction sheet of the manufac-
TWA concentration of hydrogen sulfide.
turer for the proper use of hydrogen sulfide short-term detector
4.2 Information on the correct use of detector tubes and
tubes (see Practice D4490).
length-of-stain dosimeters is presented.
6.3.1.1 Check the pump for leaks, total volume, and flow
rate in accordance with the instruction manual for the pump.
5. Significance and Use
Also check the sampling line for leaks (if used).
5.1 General—Hydrogen sulfide is nearly ubiquitous. It oc-
6.3.1.2 Remove one detector tube from the box and break
curs naturally in volcanic gases, in sulfur springs and
off both tips.
fumaroles, in decaying of plant and animal protein, and in
6.3.1.3 Insert the detector tube into the tube holder of the
intestines as a result of bacterial action. Hydrogen sulfide is a
pump or onto the sample line, making sure that it is properly
serious hazard to the health of workers employed in energy
oriented.
production from hydrocarbon or geothermal sources, in the
6.3.1.4 Face the mounted detector tube into the atmosphere
production of fibers and sheets from viscose syrup, in the
tobetested.Sampleanappropriatevolumeofairbypullingthe
production of deuterium oxide (heavy water), in tanneries,
pump handle out the required number of strokes, if using a
sewers, sewage treatment and animal waste disposal, in work
piston pump, or squeezing the pump the proper number of
below ground, on fishing boats, and in chemical operations,
times, if using a bellows-type or bulb-type pump.
including the gas and oil industry.
6.3.1.5 If hydrogen sulfide is present, the indicator chemical
5.2 In 29 CFR 1910.1000, the Federal Occupational Safety
in the tube will change color from white to brown or gray. The
and Health Administration designates that worker exposure to
length of stain, correlated with the volume of air sampled, will
certain gases and vapors must not be exceeded in workplace
indicatetheconcentration.Mostdetectortubesnowhavedirect
atmospheres at concentrations above specific values, averaged
reading concentration scales printed on the tube.
over a certain time span. Hydrogen sulfide is included in this
6.3.1.6 For the most reliable estimate of the hydrogen
list. Refer also to NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended
sulfide concentration, the maximum number of pump strokes
Standard, Occupational Exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide.
(as specified by the manufacturer) should be taken so that the
stained length is between 20 and 80 % of the total indicating
5.3 This practice will provide means for the determination
chemical length. At very low or very high concentrations, this
of airborne concentrations of hydrogen sulfide.
is not always possible.
5.4 This practice provides means for either personal or area
sampling and for short-term or time-weighted average (TWA) 6.4 Interferences—When using lead salts as the impregnant,
measurements. Refer to Threshold Limit Values for Chemical sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and mercaptans can interfere
Substances in the Work Environment. with accurate measurements, particularly at low hydrogen
sulfide concentrations. Sulfur dioxide, if present at comparable
6. Detector Tubes, Short-Term (1,4-9)
concentrations to hydrogen sulfide, will give a positive
interference, that is, will increase the length of stain; however,
6.1 General—Short-term detector tubes are used for grab-
sulfur dioxide by itself will cause no stain. Mercaptans at or
sampling. They allow determination of hydrogen sulfide con-
near their TLV levels will not interfere, but at high concentra-
centrations in approximately five min.
tions (more than 100 ppm) they can give a positive interfer-
6.2 Apparatus:
ence. Nitrogen dioxide, at concentrations near its TLV, gives a
6.2.1 Detector tubes for the detection of hydrogen sulfide
slight negative error. T
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