ASTM D6323-12

Standard Guide for Laboratory Subsampling of Media Related to Waste Management Activities

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide discusses options for taking a subsample from a sample submitted to a laboratory. If followed, it will minimize the bias and variance of the characteristic of interest of the laboratory sample prior to analysis.  
4.2 The guide will describe appropriate instructions to be submitted to the laboratory with the field sample.  
4.3 This guide is intended for use in the laboratory to take a representative subsample or specimen of the whole field sample for direct analysis or sample preparation for analysis. It is intended for field personnel, data users, laboratory sample reception personnel, analysts, and managers.  
4.4 To obtain a representative subsample, layer analysis, grinding, mixing, and changing the physical state such as digesting, drying, melting or freezing may be required. This guide considers cone and quartering, riffle splitting, and particle size reduction.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers common techniques for obtaining representative subsamples from a sample received at a laboratory for analysis. These samples may include solids, sludges, liquids, or multilayered liquids (with or without solids).  
1.2 The procedures and techniques discussed in this guide depend upon the sample matrix, the type of sample preparation and analysis performed, the characteristic(s) of interest, and the project specific instructions or data quality objectives.  
1.3 This guide includes several sample homogenization techniques, including mixing and grinding, as well as information on how to obtain a specimen or split laboratory samples.  
1.4 This guide does not apply to air or gas sampling.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 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: 30-Nov-2012
• Technical Committee: D34 - Waste Management
• Drafting Committee: D34.01.01 - Planning for Sampling

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D6323-98(2003) - Standard Guide for Laboratory Subsampling of Media Related to Waste Management Activities (Withdrawn 2012)
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2012
• Replaced By: ASTM D6323-12e1 - Standard Guide for Laboratory Subsampling of Media Related to Waste Management Activities (Withdrawn 2018)
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D5681-22e1 - Standard Terminology for Waste and Waste Management
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D6759-16 - Standard Practice for Sampling Liquids Using Grab and Discrete Depth Samplers
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2012
• Referred By: ASTM E3338-22 - Standard Guide for Size and Shape of Solid Particles, Liquid Droplets, and Gas Bubbles, Dynamically Conveyed, Using a Dynamic Imaging Analyzer
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D5680-14(2022) - Standard Practice for Sampling Unconsolidated Solids in Drums or Similar Containers
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2012

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: D6323 − 12
StandardGuide for
Laboratory Subsampling of Media Related to Waste
1
Management Activities
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6323; 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 D4547 Guide for Sampling Waste and Soils for Volatile
Organic Compounds
1.1 This guide covers common techniques for obtaining
D4823 Guide for Core Sampling Submerged, Unconsoli-
representative subsamples from a sample received at a labora-
dated Sediments
tory for analysis. These samples may include solids, sludges,
D5681 Terminology for Waste and Waste Management
liquids, or multilayered liquids (with or without solids).
D5743 Practice for Sampling Single or Multilayered
1.2 The procedures and techniques discussed in this guide
Liquids, With or Without Solids, in Drums or Similar
depend upon the sample matrix, the type of sample preparation
Containers
andanalysisperformed,thecharacteristic(s)ofinterest,andthe
D5792 Practice for Generation of Environmental Data Re-
project specific instructions or data quality objectives.
lated to Waste Management Activities: Development of
1.3 This guide includes several sample homogenization Data Quality Objectives
D5956 Guide for Sampling Strategies for Heterogeneous
techniques, including mixing and grinding, as well as informa-
tion on how to obtain a specimen or split laboratory samples. Wastes
D6051 Guide for Composite Sampling and Field Subsam-
1.4 This guide does not apply to air or gas sampling.
pling for Environmental Waste Management Activities
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3. Terminology
standard.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this guide,
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
refer to Terminology D5681.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.1 contaminant unit, n—the largest particle size that
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
contains the contaminant of interest
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.1.1 Discussion—The contaminant of concern, as defined
2. Referenced Documents
by the project objectives, may be associated with all the
2
particle sizes or associated with only a certain particle size or
2.1 ASTM Standards:
sizes. At the time of waste generation, discharge or spill, the
C702 PracticeforReducingSamplesofAggregatetoTesting
particle size of this contaminant of concern may be on the
Size
atomic or molecular scale, such as solvent spill into sand, or a
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
macro scale, such as lead acid batteries at a dump site. The
D346 Practice for Collection and Preparation of Coke
contaminant unit may also be in-between these scales, such as
Samples for Laboratory Analysis
leadparticlesencapsulatedincoal.Inpractice,thecontaminant
D2234/D2234M Practice for Collection of a Gross Sample
unit may change if the contaminant unit becomes absorbed or
of Coal
adsorbed to particles larger than the contaminant unit. It is the
size of the contaminant unit at the time of subsampling, not at
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
the time of generation, that is referred to as the contaminant
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.01 on
Planning for Sampling. unit.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2012. Published December 2012. Originally
3.2.2 maximum allowable particle size, n—the largest lineal
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D6323 – 98 (2003),
dimension of a sample’s individual particles accepted for a
which was withdrawn in June 2012 and reinstated in August 2012. DOI: 10.1520/
D6323-12
given sample mass.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
3.2.2.1 Discussion—The maximum allowable particle size
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
issometimesreferredtoastheallowableparticlesize.Asimple
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. method of measurement is a sieve.
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D6323 − 12
3.2.3 multilayered sample, n—a sample consisting of two or methods are also found in this table. The data user should be
more clearly different
...