ASTM D2036-09(2015)

Standard Test Methods for Cyanides in Water

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Cyanide is highly toxic. Regulations have been established to require the monitoring of cyanide in industrial and domestic wastes and in surface waters (Appendix X1).  
5.2 Test Method D is applicable for natural water and clean metal finishing or heat treatment effluents. It may be used for process control in wastewater treatment facilities providing its applicability has been validated by Test Method B or C.  
5.3 The spot test outlined in Annex A1 can be used to detect cyanide and thiocyanate in water or wastewater, and to approximate its concentration.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of cyanides in water. The following test methods are included:    
Sections  
Test Method A
Total Cyanides after Distillation  
12 – 18  
Test Method B
Cyanides Amenable to Chlorination2
by Difference  
19 – 25  
Test Method C
Weak Acid Dissociable Cyanides  
26 – 32  
Test Method D
Cyanides Amenable to Chlorination without
Distillation (Short-Cut Method)  
33 – 39  
1.2 Cyanogen halides may be determined separately.  
Note 1: Cyanogen chloride is the most common of the cyanogen halide complexes as it is a reaction product and is usually present when chlorinating cyanide-containing industrial waste water. For the presence or absence of CNCl, the spot test method given in Annex A1 can be used.  
1.3 These test methods do not distinguish between cyanide ions and metallocyanide compounds and complexes. Furthermore, they do not detect the cyanates. Cyanates can be determined using ion chromatography without digestion.
Note 2: The cyanate complexes are decomposed when the sample is acidified in the distillation procedure.  
1.4 The cyanide in cyanocomplexes of gold, platinum, cobalt and some other transition metals is not completely recovered by these test methods. Refer to Test Method D6994 for the determination of cyanometal complexes.  
1.5 Cyanide from only a few organic cyanides are recovered, and those only to a minor extent.  
1.6 Part or all of these test methods have been used successfully with reagent water and various waste waters. It is the user's responsibility to assure the validity of the test method for the water matrix being tested.  
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.8 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. Specific hazard statements are given in 5.1, 8.8, 8.18, Section 9, 11.3, and 16.1.9.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Jul-2015
• ICS: 13.060.50 - Examination of water for chemical substances
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.06 - Methods for Analysis for Organic Substances in Water

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: D2036 − 09 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Test Methods for
1
Cyanides in Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2036; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope the user’s responsibility to assure the validity of the test
method for the water matrix being tested.
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of cyanides
in water. The following test methods are included: 1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
Sections
Test Method A 12–18
standard.
Total Cyanides after Distillation
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Test Method B 19–25
2
Cyanides Amenable to Chlorination
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
by Difference
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Test Method C 26–32
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
Weak Acid Dissociable Cyanides
Test Method D 33–39
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Cyanides Amenable to Chlorination without
Specific hazard statements are given in 5.1, 8.8, 8.18, Section
Distillation (Short-Cut Method)
9, 11.3, and 16.1.9.
1.2 Cyanogen halides may be determined separately.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accor-
NOTE 1—Cyanogen chloride is the most common of the cyanogen dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
halide complexes as it is a reaction product and is usually present when
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
chlorinating cyanide-containing industrial waste water. For the presence
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
or absence of CNCl, the spot test method given in AnnexA1 can be used.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.3 These test methods do not distinguish between cyanide
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ions and metallocyanide compounds and complexes.
Furthermore, they do not detect the cyanates. Cyanates can be
2. Referenced Documents
determined using ion chromatography without digestion.
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
NOTE 2—The cyanate complexes are decomposed when the sample is D1129Terminology Relating to Water
acidified in the distillation procedure.
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
D2777Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
1.4 The cyanide in cyanocomplexes of gold, platinum,
cobalt and some other transition metals is not completely Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
D5788Guide for Spiking Organics into Aqueous Samples
recovered by these test methods. Refer to Test Method D6994
for the determination of cyanometal complexes. D5847Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications
for Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis
1.5 Cyanide from only a few organic cyanides are
D6696Guide for Understanding Cyanide Species
recovered, and those only to a minor extent.
D6888Test Method for Available Cyanides with Ligand
1.6 Part or all of these test methods have been used
DisplacementandFlowInjectionAnalysis(FIA)Utilizing
successfully with reagent water and various waste waters. It is
Gas Diffusion Separation and Amperometric Detection
D6994Test Method for Determination of Metal Cyanide
Complexes in Wastewater, Surface Water, Groundwater
1
and Drinking Water Using Anion Exchange Chromatog-
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on
Water and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.06 on Methods for
raphy with UV Detection
Analysis for Organic Substances in Water.
D7284Test Method for Total Cyanide in Water by Micro
Current edition approved July 15, 2015. Published July 2015. Originally
approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D2036–09. DOI:
10.1520/D2036-09R15.
2 3
For an explanation of the term cyanides amenable to alkaline chlorination, see For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Lancy, L. E. and Zabban, W., “Analytical Methods and Instrumentation for contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Determining Cyanogen Compounds,” Papers on Industrial Water and Industrial Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Waste Water, ASTM STP 337, 1962, pp. 32–45. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D2036 −
...

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: D2036 − 09 D2036 − 09 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Test Methods for
1
Cyanides in Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2036; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of cyanides in water. The following test methods are included:
Sections
Test Method A 12 – 18
Total Cyanides after Distillation
Test Method B 19 – 25
2
Cyanides Amenable to Chlorination
by Difference
Test Method C 26 – 32
Weak Acid Dissociable Cyanides
Test Method D 33 – 39
Cyanides Amenable to Chlorination without
Distillation (Short-Cut Method)
Sections
Test Method A—Total Cyanides after 12 to 18
Distillation
Test Method B—Cyanides Amenable 19 to 25
2
to Chlorination by Difference
Test Method C—Weak Acid 26 to 32
Dissociable Cyanides
Test Method D—Cyanides Amenable 33 to 39
to Chlorination without Distillation
(Short-Cut Method)
1.2 Cyanogen halides may be determined separately.
NOTE 1—Cyanogen chloride is the most common of the cyanogen halide complexes as it is a reaction product and is usually present when chlorinating
cyanide-containing industrial waste water. For the presence or absence of CNCl, the spot test method given in Annex A1 can be used.
1.3 These test methods do not distinguish between cyanide ions and metallocyanide compounds and complexes. Furthermore,
they do not detect the cyanates. Cyanates can be determined using ion chromatography without digestion.
NOTE 2—The cyanate complexes are decomposed when the sample is acidified in the distillation procedure.
1.4 The cyanide in cyanocomplexes of gold, platinum, cobalt and some other transition metals is not completely recovered by
these test methods. Refer to Test Method D6994 for the determination of cyanometal complexes.
1.5 Cyanide from only a few organic cyanides are recovered, and those only to a minor extent.
1.6 Part or all of these test methods have been used successfully with reagent water and various waste waters. It is the user’s
responsibility to assure the validity of the test method for the water matrix being tested.
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.8 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. Specific hazard statements are given in sections 5.1, 8.8, 8.18, Section 9, 11.3, and 16.1.9.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.06 on Methods for Analysis
for Organic Substances in Water.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2009July 15, 2015. Published October 2009July 2015. Originally approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 20062009 as
D2036 – 06.D2036 – 09. DOI: 10.1520/D2036-09.10.1520/D2036-09R15.
2
For an explanation of the term cyanides amenable to alkaline chlorination, see Lancy, L. E. and Zabban, W., “Analytical Methods and Instrumentation for Determining
Cyanogen Compounds,” Papers on Industrial Water and Industrial Waste Water, ASTM STP 337, 1962, pp. 32–45.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D2036 − 09 (2015)
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
D5788 Guide for Spiking Organics into Aqueous Samples
D5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications for Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis
D6696 Guide for Understanding Cyanide Species
D6888 Test Method for Available Cyanide with Ligand Displacement and Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) Utilizing Gas Diffusion
Separation and Amperometric Detection
D6994 Test Method for Determination of Metal Cyanide Complexes in Wastewater, Surface Wate
...