ASTM D4839-03

Standard Test Method for Total Carbon and Organic Carbon in Water by Ultraviolet, or Persulfate Oxidation, or Both, and Infrared Detection

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method is used for determination of the carbon content of water from a variety of natural, domestic, and industrial sources. In its most common form, this test method is used to measure organic carbon as a means of monitoring organic pollutants in industrial wastewater. These measurements are also used in monitoring waste treatment processes.
The relationship of TOC to other water quality parameters such as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total oxygen demand (TOD) is described in the literature. 4
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of total carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (IC), and total organic carbon (TOC) in water, wastewater, and seawater in the range from 0.1 mg/L to 4000 mg/L of carbon.
1.2 This test method was used successfully with reagent water spiked with sodium carbonate, acetic acid, and pyridine. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested matrices.
1.3 This test method is applicable only to carbonaceous matter in the sample that can be introduced into the reaction zone. The syringe needle or injector opening size generally limit the maximum size of particles that can be so introduced.
1.4 In addition to laboratory analyses, this test method may be applied to stream monitoring.
1.5 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-Jan-2003
• ICS: 71.060.10 - Chemical elements
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.06 - Methods for Analysis for Organic Substances in Water

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4839-94 - Standard Test Method for Total Carbon and Organic Carbon in Water by Ultraviolet, or Persulfate Oxidation, or Both, and Infrared Detection
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM D4839-03(2011) - Standard Test Method for Total Carbon and Organic Carbon in Water by Ultraviolet, or Persulfate Oxidation, or Both, and Infrared Detection
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E2656-16 - Standard Practice for Real-time Release Testing of Pharmaceutical Water for the Total Organic Carbon Attribute
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D3694-96(2017) - Standard Practices for Preparation of Sample Containers and for Preservation of Organic Constituents
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• 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: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D6908-06(2017) - Standard Practice for Integrity Testing of Water Filtration Membrane Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003

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:D4839–03
Standard Test Method for
Total Carbon and Organic Carbon in Water by Ultraviolet, or
1
Persulfate Oxidation, or Both, and Infrared Detection
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4839; 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 D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
D4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water
1.1 This test method covers the determination of total
by High Temperature Oxidation and by Coulometric De-
carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (IC), and total organic carbon
tection
(TOC)inwater,wastewater,andseawaterintherangefrom0.1
D5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications
mg/L to 4000 mg/L of carbon.
for Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis
1.2 This test method was used successfully with reagent
water spiked with sodium carbonate, acetic acid, and pyridine.
3. Terminology
It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this test
3.1 Definitions:
method for waters of untested matrices.
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
1.3 This test method is applicable only to carbonaceous
to Terminology D1129.
matter in the sample that can be introduced into the reaction
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
zone. The syringe needle or injector opening size generally
3.2.1 inorganic carbon (IC)—carbon in the form of carbon
limit the maximum size of particles that can be so introduced.
dioxide, carbonate ion, or bicarbonate ion.
1.4 In addition to laboratory analyses, this test method may
3.2.2 total organic carbon (TOC)—carbon in the form of
be applied to stream monitoring.
organic compounds.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.3 total carbon (TC)—the sum of IC and TOC.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.4 refractory material—that which cannot be oxidized
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
completely under the test method conditions.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4. Summary of Test Method
2. Referenced Documents 4.1 Fundamentals—Carbon can occur in water as an inor-
2 ganic and organic compound. This test method can be used to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
make independent measurements of IC, TOC, and TC, and can
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
also determine IC by the difference of TC and TOC, and TOC
D1192 Guide for Equipment for SamplingWater and Steam
3 as the difference of TC and IC.
in Closed Conduits
4.2 The essentials of this test method are: (a) removal of IC,
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
if desired, by acidification of the sample and sparging by
D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
carbon-free gas; (b) conversion of remaining carbon to CO by
2
Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
action of persulfate, aided either by elevated temperature or
ultraviolet (UV) radiation; (c) detection of CO that is swept
2
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water
out of the reactor by a gas stream; and (d) conversion of
andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD19.06onMethodsforAnalysisfor
detector signal to a display of carbon concentration in mg/L.A
Organic Substances in Water.
diagram of suitable apparatus is given in Fig. 1.
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2003. Published January 2003. Originally
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 1994 as D4839 – 94. DOI:
5. Significance and Use
10.1520/D4839-03.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5.1 This test method is used for determination of the carbon
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
content of water from a variety of natural, domestic, and
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
industrial sources. In its most common form, this test method
3
Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
is used to measure organic carbon as a means of monitoring
on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D4839–03
FIG. 1 Diagram of Apparatus
organic pollutants in industrial wastewater. These measure- large levels. For example, a ground water high in IC and low
ments are also used in monitoring waste treatment processes. inTOCwillgiveapoorerTOCvalueas(TC-IC)thanbydirect
5.2 The relationshi
...