ASTM D2036-98

Standard Test Methods for Cyanides in Water

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 to 18 Test Method B---Cyanides Amenable to Chlorination2 by Difference 19 to 25 Test Method C---Weak Acid Dissociable Cyanides 26 to 32 Test Method D---Cyanides Amenable to Chlorination without Distil- lation (Short-Cut Method) 33 to 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.  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.  
1.5 Only a few organo-cyanide complexes 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 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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 Notes 3, 4, 5, and 6, 5.1, and Section 9.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jul-1998
• 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

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D2036-06 - Standard Test Methods for Cyanides in Water
• Effective Date: 15-Feb-2006
• Referred By: ASTM D7295-18 - Standard Practice for Sampling Combustion Effluents and Other Stationary Sources for the Subsequent Determination of Hydrogen Cyanide
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D7511-12(2017)e1 - Standard Test Method for Total Cyanide by Segmented Flow Injection Analysis, In-Line Ultraviolet Digestion and Amperometric Detection
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D7365-09a(2022) - Standard Practice for Sampling, Preservation and Mitigating Interferences in Water Samples for Analysis of Cyanide
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D4193-08(2020)e1 - Standard Test Method for Thiocyanate in Water
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D4165-06(2020)e1 - Standard Test Method for Cyanogen Chloride in Water 
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D7284-20 - Standard Test Method for Total Cyanide in Water by Micro Distillation followed by Flow Injection Analysis with Gas Diffusion Separation and Amperometric Detection
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM E800-20 - Standard Guide for Measurement of Gases Present or Generated During Fires
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D7572-15(2022) - Standard Guide for Recovery of Aqueous Cyanides by Extraction from Mine Rock and Soil
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D7728-18 - Standard Guide for Selection of ASTM Analytical Methods for Implementation of International Cyanide Management Code Guidance
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D3694-96(2017) - Standard Practices for Preparation of Sample Containers and for Preservation of Organic Constituents
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D7237-18 - Standard Test Method for Free Cyanide and Aquatic Free Cyanide with Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) Utilizing Gas Diffusion Separation and Amperometric Detection
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D6888-16 - Standard Test Method for Available Cyanides with Ligand Displacement and Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) Utilizing Gas Diffusion Separation and Amperometric Detection
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998

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:D2036–98
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTINGAND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA19428
Reprinted from theAnnual Book ofASTM Standards. CopyrightASTM
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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of cyanides
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard
in water. The following test methods are included:
statementsaregiveninNote3,Note4,Note6,andNote7,5.1,
Sections
and Section 9.
Test MethodA—Total Cyanides after Distillation 12 to 18
2
Test Method B—CyanidesAmenable to Chlorination by Difference 19 to 25
Test Method C—WeakAcid Dissociable Cyanides 26 to 32
2. Referenced Documents
Test Method D—CyanidesAmenable to Chlorination without Distil- 33 to 39
2.1 ASTM Standards:
lation (Short-Cut Method)
3
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
1.2 Cyanogen halides may be determined separately.
3
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
NOTE 1—Cyanogen chloride is the most common of the cyanogen D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
3
halide complexes as it is a reaction product and is usually present when
Applicable Methods of Committee D-19 on Water
chlorinating cyanide-containing industrial waste water. For the presence
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Con-
or absence of CNCl, the spot test method given inAnnexA1 can be used.
3
duits
1.3 These test methods do not distinguish between cyanide
D3856 Guide for Good Laboratory Practices in Laborato-
3
ions and metallocyanide compounds and complexes. Further-
ries Engaged in Sampling and Analysis of Water
more, they do not detect the cyanates.
D4210 Practice for Intralaboratory Quality Control Proce-
3
dures and a Discussion on Reporting Low-Level Data
NOTE 2—The cyanate complexes are decomposed when the sample is
3
D5788 Guide for Spiking Organics intoAqueous Samples
acidified in the distillation procedure.
D5789 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications
1.4 The cyanide in cyanocomplexes of gold, platinum,
3
for Standard Test Methods for Organic Constituents
cobalt and some other transition metals is not completely
E 60 Practice for Photometric and Spectrophotometric
recovered by these test methods.
4
Methods for Chemical Analysis of Metals
1.5 Only a few organo-cyanide complexes are recovered,
E275 Practice for Describing and Measuring Performance
and those only to a minor extent.
of Ultraviolet, Visible, and Near Infrared Spectrophotom-
1.6 Part or all of these test methods have been used
5
eters
successfully with reagent water and various waste waters. It is
the user’s responsibility to assure the validity of the test
3. Terminology
method for the water matrix being tested.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in these test
1.7 Separation of the cyanide from interfering substances
methods, refer to Terminology D1129.
prior to electrochemical determination (see 16.5 for ion chro-
3.2 Abbreviations:
matography procedure) should be conducted when using Test
3.2.1 HPLC—High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Method A-total cyanides after distillation or Test Method
3.2.2 IC—Ion Chromatography
B-cyanides amenable to chlorination by the difference when
sulfur, thiocyanate, or other sulfur containing compounds are
4. Summary of Test Methods
present.
4.1 The cyanide as hydrocyanic acid (HCN) is released
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
from compounds by means of reflux distillation and absorbed
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
in sodium hydroxide solution. The conditions used for the
distillationdistinguishthetypeofcyanide.Thesodiumcyanide
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-19 on
in the absorbing solution can be determined colorimetrically,
Water and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.06 on Methods for
by titration or by selective ion electrode.
Analysis for Organic Substances in Water.
Current edition approved July 10, 1998. Published December 1998. Originally
published as D2036–64T. Last previous edition D2036–97.
2
For an explanation of the term cyanides amenable to alkaline chlorination, see
3
Lancy, L. E. and Zabban, W., “Analytical Methods and Instrumentation for Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
4
Determining Cyanogen Compounds,” Papers on Industrial Water and Industrial Annual Book of ASTM Sta
...