ASTM D4839-94

Standard Test Method for Total Carbon and Organic Carbon in Water by Ultraviolet, or Persulfate Oxidation, or Both, and Infrared Detection

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of total carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (IC), and total organic carbon (TOC) in water, wastewater, and seawater in the range from 0.1 mg/L to 4000 mg/L of carbon.
1.2 This test method was used successfully with reagent water spiked with sodium carbonate, acetic acid, and pyridine. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested matrices.
1.3 This test method is applicable only to carbonaceous matter in the sample that can be introduced into the reaction zone. The syringe needle or injector opening size generally limit the maximum size of particles that can be so introduced.
1.4 In addition to laboratory analyses, this test method may be applied to stream monitoring.
1.5 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: 31-Dec-1993
• ICS: 71.060.10 - Chemical elements
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.06 - Methods for Analysis for Organic Substances in Water

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D4839-03 - Standard Test Method for Total Carbon and Organic Carbon in Water by Ultraviolet, or Persulfate Oxidation, or Both, and Infrared Detection
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or
withdrawn.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: D 4839 – 94
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Test Method for
Total Carbon and Organic Carbon in Water by Ultraviolet, or
1
Persulfate Oxidation, or Both, and Infrared Detection
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4839; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
1.1 This test method covers the determination of total
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (IC), and total organic carbon
to Terminology D 1129.
(TOC) in water, wastewater, and seawater in the range from 0.1
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
mg/L to 4000 mg/L of carbon.
3.2.1 inorganic carbon (IC)—carbon in the form of carbon
1.2 This test method was used successfully with reagent
dioxide, carbonate ion, or bicarbonate ion.
water spiked with sodium carbonate, acetic acid, and pyridine.
3.2.2 total organic carbon (TOC)—carbon in the form of
It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of this test
organic compounds.
method for waters of untested matrices.
3.2.3 total carbon (TC)—the sum of IC and OC.
1.3 This test method is applicable only to carbonaceous
3.2.4 refractory material—that which cannot be oxidized
matter in the sample that can be introduced into the reaction
completely under the test method conditions.
zone. The syringe needle or injector opening size generally
4. Summary of Test Method
limit the maximum size of particles that can be so introduced.
4.1 Fundamentals—Carbon can occur in water as an inor-
1.4 In addition to laboratory analyses, this test method may
ganic and organic compound. This test method can be used to
be applied to stream monitoring.
make independent measurements of IC, TOC, and TC, and can
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
also determine IC by the difference of TC and TOC, and TOC
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
as the difference of TC and IC.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.2 The essentials of this test method are: (a) removal of IC,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
if desired, by acidification of the sample and sparging by
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
carbon-free gas; (b) conversion of remaining carbon to CO by
2
action of persulfate, aided either by elevated temperature or
2. Referenced Documents
ultraviolet (UV) radiation; (c) detection of CO that is swept
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: out of the reactor by a gas stream; and (d) conversion of
2
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
detector signal to a display of carbon concentration in mg/L. A
D 1192 Specification for Equipment for Sampling Water diagram of suitable apparatus is given in Fig. 1.
2
and Steam
2 5. Significance and Use
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D 2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of 5.1 This test method is used for determination of the carbon
2
content of water from a variety of natural, domestic, and
Applicable Methods of Committee D-19 on Water
D 3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Con- industrial sources. In its most common form, this test method
2
is used to measure organic carbon as a means of monitoring
duits
D 4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Water organic pollutants in industrial wastewater. These measure-
3
by Oxidation and Coulometric Detection ments are also used in monitoring waste treatment processes.
D 4210 Practice for Intralaboratory Quality Control Proce- 5.2 The relationship of TOC to other water quality param-
2
dures and a Discussion on Reporting Low-Level Data eters such as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total oxygen
4
demand (TOD) is described in the literature.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-19 on Water 6. Interferences and Limitations
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.06 on Methods for Analysis for
6.1 The oxidation of dissolved carbon to CO is brought
2
Organic Substances in Water.
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 1994. Published November 1994. Originally
published as D 4839 – 88. Last previous edition D 4839 – 88.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. Handbook for Monitoring Industrial Wastewater, Section 5.3, U.S. Environ-
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02. ment Protection Agency, August 1973, pp. 5–12.
1

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