ASTM D3686-13

Standard Practice for Sampling Atmospheres to Collect Organic Compound Vapors (Activated Charcoal Tube Adsorption Method)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Promulgations by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 29 CFR 1910.1000 designate that certain organic compounds must not be present in workplace atmospheres at concentrations above specific values.  
5.2 This practice, when used in conjunction with Practice D3687, will provide the needed accuracy and precision for the determination of airborne time-weighted average concentrations of many of the organic chemicals cited in CDC-99-74-45, HSM-99-71-31, NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, 29 CFR 1910.1000, OSHA Chemical Sampling Information, OSHA Sampling and Analytical Methods, HSE Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances, and BGIA GETIS Analytical Methods.  
5.3 A partial list of chemicals for which this method is applicable is given in Annex A1, along with their OSHA permissible exposure limits.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers a method for the sampling of atmospheres to determine the presence of certain organic vapors by means of adsorption on activated charcoal using a charcoal tube and a small portable sampling pump worn by a worker. A list of some of the organic chemical vapors that can be sampled by this practice is provided in Annex A1. This list is presented as an information guide and should not be considered as absolute or complete.  
1.2 This practice does not cover any method of sampling that requires special impregnation of activated charcoal or other adsorption media.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 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. A specific safety precaution is given in 9.4.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2013
• ICS: 13.040.20 - Ambient atmospheres
• Technical Committee: D22 - Air Quality
• Drafting Committee: D22.04 - Workplace Air Quality

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D3686-08 - Standard Practice for Sampling Atmospheres to Collect Organic Compound Vapors (Activated Charcoal Tube Adsorption Method)
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Replaced By: ASTM D3686-20 - Standard Practice for Sampling Atmospheres to Collect Organic Compound Vapors (Activated Charcoal Tube Adsorption Method)
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2020
• Referred By: ASTM D5116-17 - Standard Guide for Small-Scale Environmental Chamber Determinations of Organic Emissions from Indoor Materials/Products
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D3687-19 - Standard Test Method for Analysis of Organic Compound Vapors Collected by the Activated Charcoal Tube Adsorption Method
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D7339-18 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted from Carpet using a Specific Sorbent Tube and Thermal Desorption / Gas Chromatography
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D6196-23 - Standard Practice for Choosing Sorbents, Sampling Parameters and Thermal Desorption Analytical Conditions for Monitoring Volatile Organic Chemicals in Air
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D4861-23 - Standard Practice for Sampling and Selection of Analytical Techniques for Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Air
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D5578-04(2015) - Standard Test Method for Determination of Ethylene Oxide in Workplace Atmospheres (HBr Derivatization Method)
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D5836-20 - Standard Test Method for Determination of 2,4-Toluene Diisocyanate (2,4-TDI) and 2,6-Toluene Diisocyanate (2,6-TDI) in Workplace Atmospheres (1-2 PP Method)
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D5197-21 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Formaldehyde and Other Carbonyl Compounds in Air (Active Sampler Methodology)
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D4766-21 - Standard Test Method for Vinyl Chloride in Workplace Atmospheres (Charcoal Tube Method)
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D1356-20a - Standard Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E1747-95(2019) - Standard Guide for Purity of Carbon Dioxide Used in Supercritical Fluid Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D4844-16 - Standard Guide for Air Monitoring at Waste Management Facilities for Worker Protection
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D4597-10(2021) - Standard Practice for Sampling Workplace Atmospheres to Collect Gases or Vapors with Solid Sorbent Diffusive Samplers
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013

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: D3686 − 13
Standard Practice for
Sampling Atmospheres to Collect Organic Compound
1
Vapors (Activated Charcoal Tube Adsorption Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3686; 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 Collected by the Activated Charcoal Tube Adsorption
Method
1.1 This practice covers a method for the sampling of
D5337 Practice for Flow RateAdjustment of Personal Sam-
atmospheres to determine the presence of certain organic
pling Pumps
vapors by means of adsorption on activated charcoal using a
charcoal tube and a small portable sampling pump worn by a 2.2 NIOSH Standards:
3
worker.Alist of some of the organic chemical vapors that can CDC-99-74-45 Documentation of NIOSH Validation Tests
be sampled by this practice is provided in Annex A1. This list HSM-99-71-31 Personal Sampler Pump for Charcoal
3
is presented as an information guide and should not be Tubes; Final Report
4
considered as absolute or complete. NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, Fourth Edition
1.2 This practice does not cover any method of sampling 2.3 OSHA Standards:
that requires special impregnation of activated charcoal or 29 CFR 1910 Code of Federal Regulations Relating to
other adsorption media. Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
5
Department of Labor
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
6
OSHA Chemical Sampling Information
standard.
7
OSHA Sampling and Analytical Methods
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
8
2.4 UK Health and Safety Executive:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Methods for Determination of Hazardous Substances
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
(MDHS)
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. A specific safety 2.5 Berufsgenossenschaftliches Institut für Arbeitsschulz
9
precaution is given in 9.4.
(BGIA):
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
GESTIS Analytical Methods
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3. Terminology
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this method, refer to
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Terminology D1356.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.2 Activated charcoal refers to properly conditioned char-
2. Referenced Documents
coal.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
Atmospheres 3
Available from National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port
Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161, http://www.ntis.gov.
D3687 Practice for Analysis of Organic Compound Vapors
4
NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nmam.
5
AvailablefromU.S.GovernmentPrintingOfficeSuperintendentofDocuments,
732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401, http://
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality www.access.gpo.gov.
6
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.04 on WorkplaceAir Quality. OSHAChemical Sampling Information, http://osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/
Current edition approved April 1, 2013. Published April 2013. Originally toc/toc_chemsamp.html.
7
approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D3686 – 08. DOI: OSHA Sampling and Analytical Methods, http://osha.gov/dts/sltc/methods/
10.1520/D3686-13. toc.html.
2 8
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Health Safety Executive. Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Sub-
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM stances (MDHS) guidance. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/mdhs/index.htm#
9
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Berufsgenossenschaftliches Institut für Arbeitsschutz, GESTIS Analytical
the ASTM website. methods, http://www.hvbg.de/e/bia/gestis/analytical_methods/index.html.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D3686 − 13
FIG. 1 Activated Charcoal Adsorption Sampling Tube
4. Summary of Practice 7. Apparatus
4.1 Air samples are collected for organic vapor analysis by
7.1 Charcoal Tube:
aspirating air at a known rate and for an appropriate time 7.1.1 A sampling tube consists of a length of glass tubing
through sampling tubes containing activated charcoal.
usually
...

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: D3686 − 08 D3686 − 13
Standard Practice for
Sampling Atmospheres to Collect Organic Compound
1
Vapors (Activated Charcoal Tube Adsorption Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3686; 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 covers a method for the sampling of atmospheres to determine the presence of certain organic vapors by means
of adsorption on activated charcoal using a charcoal tube and a small portable sampling pump worn by a worker. A list of some
of the organic chemical vapors that can be sampled by this practice is provided in Annex A1. This list is presented as an information
guide and should not be considered as absolute or complete.
1.2 This practice does not cover any method of sampling that requires special impregnation of activated charcoal or other
adsorption media.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 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. A specific safety precaution is given in 9.4.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres
D3687 Practice for Analysis of Organic Compound Vapors Collected by the Activated Charcoal Tube Adsorption Method
D5337 Practice for Flow Rate Adjustment of Personal Sampling Pumps
2.2 NIOSH Standards:
3
CDC-99-74-45 Documentation of NIOSH Validation Tests
3
HSM-99-71-31 Personal Sampler Pump for Charcoal Tubes; Final Report
4
NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, Fourth Edition
2.3 OSHA Standards:
29 CFR 1910 Code of Federal Regulations Relating to Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of
5
Labor
6
OSHA Chemical Sampling Information
7
OSHA Sampling and Analytical Methods
8
2.4 UK Health and Safety Executive:
Methods for Determination of Hazardous Substances (MDHS)
9
2.5 Berufsgenossenschaftliches Institut für Arbeitsschulz (BGIA)
GESTIS Analytical Methods
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.04 on Workplace Air Quality.
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2008April 1, 2013. Published January 2009April 2013. Originally approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 20012008 as
ε1
D3686 - 95D3686 - 08.(2001) . DOI: 10.1520/D3686-08.10.1520/D3686-13.
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
Available from National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161, http://www.ntis.gov.
4
NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nmam/
5
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401, http://
www.access.gpo.gov.
6
OSHA Chemical Sampling Information. http://osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/toc/toc_chemsamp.html
7
OSHA Sampling and Analytical Methods. http://osha.gov/dts/sltc/methods/toc.html
8
Health Safety Executive. Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances (MDHS) guidance. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/mdhs/index.htm#
9
Berufsgenossenschaftliches Institut für Arbeitsschutz. GESTIS Analytical methods. http://www.hvbg.de/e/bia/gestis/analytical_methods/index.html
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D3686 − 13
FIG. 1 Activated Charcoal Adsorption Sampling Tube
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this method, refer to Terminology D1356.
3.2 Activated charcoal refers to properly conditioned charcoal.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 Air samples are collected for organic vapor analysis by aspirating air at a known rate and for an appropriate time through
sampling tubes containing activated charcoal.
4.2 Instructions are given to enable assembly of charcoal tubes suitable
...