ASTM D3976-92(2015)

Standard Practice for Preparation of Sediment Samples for Chemical Analysis

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The chemical analysis of sediments, collected from such locations as streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans can provide information of environmental significance.  
5.2 Sediment samples are inherently heterogeneous in that they contain occluded water in varying and unpredictable amounts and may contain foreign objects or material not ordinarily considered as sediment, the inclusion of which would result in inaccurate analysis.  
5.3 Standard methods for separating foreign objects to facilitate homogenization will minimize errors due to poor mixing and inclusion of extraneous material.  
5.4 Standardized procedures for drying provide a means for reporting analytical values to a common dry weight basis.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes standard procedures for preparation of test samples (including the removal of occluded water and moisture) of field samples collected from locations such as streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans.  
1.2 These procedures are applicable to the determination of volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile constituents of sediments.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this 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. For a specific precautionary statement, see Note 3.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2014
• ICS: 13.060.45 - Examination of water in general
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.07 - Sediments, Geomorphology, and Open-Channel Flow

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: D3976 − 92 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Practice for
1
Preparation of Sediment Samples for Chemical Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3976; 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 4. Summary of Practice
1.1 This practice describes standard procedures for prepa- 4.1 Samples collected (see Practice D3370 and Specifica-
ration of test samples (including the removal of occluded water tion D1192) in the field are screened to remove foreign objects
prior to homogenization for chemical examination and analy-
and moisture) of field samples collected from locations such as
streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans. sis.Largeobjectsaremechanicallyremovedandsmallonesare
eliminated by sieving the sample through a 10-mesh (2 mm
1.2 These procedures are applicable to the determination of
openings) sieve.
volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile constituents of sedi-
4.2 Wet, sieved samples are mixed for preliminary
ments.
homogenization, then allowed to settle to remove most of the
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
occluded water.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
4.3 Moisture determinations are made on separate samples
standard.
from those analyzed for volatile or semivolatile constituents.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4.4 Analyses for volatile constituents are made using wet,
settled samples from which supernatant liquid has been re-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- moved by decantation. The results are corrected to those that
would have been obtained on samples dried to constant weight
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific
precautionary statement, see Note 3. at 105 6 2°C, on the basis of a moisture determination using
a separate sample.
2. Referenced Documents
4.5 Analyses for semivolatile constituents (for example,
2
mercury) are made on samples previously dried at a tempera-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ture found to be adequate for the purpose, and specified in the
D596 Guide for Reporting Results of Analysis of Water
corresponding analytical procedure.
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D1192 Guide for Equipment for Sampling Water and Steam
4.6 Analyses for nonvolatile constituents are made on
3
in Closed Conduits (Withdrawn 2003)
samples previously dried to constant weight at 105 6 2°C.
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
4.7 A flow diagram, outlining typical procedures, is shown
D4410 Terminology for Fluvial Sediment
in Fig. 1.
3. Terminology 5. Significance and Use
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this 5.1 Thechemicalanalysisofsediments,collectedfromsuch
practice, refer to Terminologies D1129 and D4410. locations as streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans can
provide information of environmental significance.
5.2 Sediment samples are inherently heterogeneous in that
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and they contain occluded water in varying and unpredictable
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.07 on Sediments, Geomorphology,
amounts and may contain foreign objects or material not
and Open-Channel Flow.
ordinarily considered as sediment, the inclusion of which
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2015. Published January 2015. Originally
would result in inaccurate analysis.
approved in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D3976 – 92 (2010).
DOI: 10.1520/D3976-92R15.
5.3 Standard methods for separating foreign objects to
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
facilitate homogenization will minimize errors due to poor
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on mixing and inclusion of extraneous material.
the ASTM website.
3
5.4 Standardized procedures for drying provide a means for
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. reporting analytical values to a common dry weight basis.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D3976 − 92 (2015)
FIG. 1 Flow diagram for Sediment-Sample Treatment
6. Preliminary Treatment of Field Samples 6.4.1 Manually remove foreign objects such as stones,
twigs, leaves, trash, etc
...

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.
Designation: D3976 − 92 (Reapproved 2010) D3976 − 92 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Practice for
1
Preparation of Sediment Samples for Chemical Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3976; 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
1.1 This practice describes standard procedures for preparation of test samples (including the removal of occluded water and
moisture) of field samples collected from locations such as streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans.
1.2 These procedures are applicable to the determination of volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile constituents of sediments.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this 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. For a specific precautionary statement, see Note 3.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D596 Guide for Reporting Results of Analysis of Water
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
3
D1192 Guide for Equipment for Sampling Water and Steam in Closed Conduits (Withdrawn 2003)
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
D4410 Terminology for Fluvial Sediment
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to Terminologies D1129 and D4410.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 Samples collected (see Practice D3370 and Specification D1192) in the field are screened to remove foreign objects prior
to homogenization for chemical examination and analysis. Large objects are mechanically removed and small ones are eliminated
by sieving the sample through a 10-mesh (2 mm openings) sieve.
4.2 Wet, sieved samples are mixed for preliminary homogenization, then allowed to settle to remove most of the occluded water.
4.3 Moisture determinations are made on separate samples from those analyzed for volatile or semivolatile constituents.
4.4 Analyses for volatile constituents are made using wet, settled samples from which supernatant liquid has been removed by
decantation. The results are corrected to those that would have been obtained on samples dried to constant weight at 105 6 2 °C,
2°C, on the basis of a moisture determination using a separate sample.
4.5 Analyses for semivolatile constituents (for example, mercury) are made on samples previously dried at a temperature found
to be adequate for the purpose, and specified in the corresponding analytical procedure.
4.6 Analyses for nonvolatile constituents are made on samples previously dried to constant weight at 105 6 2 °C.2°C.
4.7 A flow diagram, outlining typical procedures, is shown in Fig. 1.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.07 on Sediments, Geomorphology, and
Open-Channel Flow.
Current edition approved June 15, 2010Jan. 1, 2015. Published December 2010January 2015. Originally approved in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 20052010
as D3976 – 92 (2005).(2010). DOI: 10.1520/D3976-92R10.10.1520/D3976-92R15.
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.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D3976 − 92 (2015)
FIG. 1 Flow diagram for Sediment-Sample Treatment
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The chemical analysis of sediments, collected from such locations as streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans can provide
information of environmental significance.
5.2 Sediment samples are inherently heterogeneous in that they contain occluded water in varying and unpredictable amounts
and may contain foreign objects or material not ordinarily considered as sediment, the inclusion of which would result in inaccurate
analysis.
5.3 Standard methods
...