ASTM D4547-20

Standard Guide for Sampling Waste and Soils for Volatile Organic Compounds

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This guide describes sample collection and handling procedures designed to minimize losses of VOCs. The principal mechanisms for the loss of VOCs from materials during collection, handling, and storage are volatilization and biodegradation. Susceptibility of various VOCs to these two loss mechanisms is both compound and matrix specific. In general, compounds with higher vapor pressures are more susceptible to volatilization than compounds with lower vapor pressures. Also, aerobically degradable compounds are generally more susceptible to biodegradation than anaerobically degradable compounds. In some cases, the formation of other compounds not originally present in the material can occur. Loss or gain of VOCs leads to analytical results that are unrepresentative of field conditions.  
5.2 Ancillary information concerning sample collection, handling, and storage for VOC analysis is provided in Appendix X1 – Appendix X3. These appendixes and cited references are recommended reading for those unfamiliar with the many challenges presented during the collection, handling, and storage of samples for VOC analysis.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes recommended procedures for the collection, handling, and preparation of solid waste, soil, and sediment samples for subsequent determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This class of compounds includes low molecular weight aromatics, hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, ketones, acetates, nitriles, acrylates, ethers, and sulfides with boiling points below 200° Celsius (C) that are insoluble or slightly soluble in water.  
1.2 Methods of sample collection, handling, storage, and preparation for analysis are described.  
1.3 This guide does not cover the details of sampling design, laboratory preparation of containers, and the analysis of the samples.  
1.4 It is recommended that this guide be used in conjunction with Guide D4687.  
1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.  
1.7 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2020
• ICS: 13.080.05 - Examination of soils in general
• Technical Committee: D34 - Waste Management
• Drafting Committee: D34.01.02 - Sampling Techniques

Relations

• Refers: ASTM D5058-12(2020) - Standard Practices for Compatibility of Screening Analysis of Waste
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4547 − 20
Standard Guide for
1
Sampling Waste and Soils for Volatile Organic Compounds
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4547; 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 priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This guide describes recommended procedures for the
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
collection, handling, and preparation of solid waste, soil, and
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
sediment samples for subsequent determination of volatile
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
organic compounds (VOCs).This class of compounds includes
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
low molecular weight aromatics, hydrocarbons, halogenated
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
hydrocarbons, ketones, acetates, nitriles, acrylates, ethers, and
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
sulfides with boiling points below 200° Celsius (C) that are
insoluble or slightly soluble in water.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2 Methods of sample collection, handling, storage, and 2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
preparation for analysis are described.
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
1.3 Thisguidedoesnotcoverthedetailsofsamplingdesign, D1586/D1586M Test Method for Standard Penetration Test
laboratory preparation of containers, and the analysis of the (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
samples. D3550/D3550M Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split
Barrel, Drive Sampling of Soils
1.4 Itisrecommendedthatthisguidebeusedinconjunction
D4687 Guide for General Planning of Waste Sampling
with Guide D4687.
D4700 Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone
1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information
D5058 Practices for Compatibility of Screening Analysis of
oraseriesofoptionsanddoesnotrecommendaspecificcourse
Waste
of action. This document cannot replace education or experi-
D5681 Terminology for Waste and Waste Management
ence and should be used in conjunction with professional
D5792 Practice for Generation of Environmental Data Re-
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all
lated to Waste Management Activities: Development of
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-
Data Quality Objectives
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
D6051 Guide for Composite Sampling and Field Subsam-
a given professional service must be judged, nor should this
pling for Environmental Waste Management Activities
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
D6232 Guide for Selection of Sampling Equipment for
unique aspects. The word “standard” in the title of this
WasteandContaminatedMediaDataCollectionActivities
document means only that the document has been approved
D6282/D6282M Guide for Direct Push Soil Sampling for
through the ASTM consensus process.
Environmental Site Characterizations
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as D6418 Practice for Using the Disposable En Core Sampler
for Sampling and Storing Soil for Volatile OrganicAnaly-
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3
standard. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall sis (Withdrawn 2018)
D6640 Practice for Collection and Handling of Soils Ob-
not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
tained in Core Barrel Samplers for Environmental Inves-
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tigations
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D8170 Guide for Using Disposable Handheld Soil Core
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Samplers for the Collection and Storage of Soil for
1 2
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.02 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Sampling Techniques. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2020. Published September 2020. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D4547 – 15. DOI: The last approved version of this historical standard is
...

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: D4547 − 15 D4547 − 20
Standard Guide for
1
Sampling Waste and Soils for Volatile Organic Compounds
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4547; 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 guide describes recommended procedures for the collection, handling, and preparation of solid waste, soil, and sediment
samples for subsequent determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This class of compounds includes low molecular
weight aromatics, hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, ketones, acetates, nitriles, acrylates, ethers, and sulfides with boiling
points below 200° Celsius (C) that are insoluble or slightly soluble in water.
1.2 Methods of sample collection, handling, storage, and preparation for analysis are described.
1.3 This guide does not cover the details of sampling design, laboratory preparation of containers, and the analysis of the samples.
1.4 It is recommended that this guide be used in conjunction with Guide D4687.
1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of
action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not
all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the
standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied
without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “standard” in the title of this document means only that the
document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
1.7 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.02 on Sampling Techniques.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2015Sept. 1, 2020. Published October 2015September 2020. Originally approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 20092015
as D4547 - 09.D4547 – 15. DOI: 10.1520/D4547-15.10.1520/D4547-20.
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.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D4547 − 20
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D1586D1586/D1586M Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
D3550D3550/D3550M Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split Barrel, Drive Sampling of Soils
D4687 Guide for General Planning of Waste Sampling
D4700 Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone
D5058 Practices for Compatibility of Screening Analysis of Waste
D5681 Terminology for Waste and Waste Management
D5792 Practice for Generation of Environmental Data Related to Waste Management Activities: Development of Data Quality
Objectives
D6051 Guide for Composite Sampling and Field Subsampling for Environmental Waste Management Activities
D6232 Guide for Selection of Sampling Equipment for Waste and Contaminated Media Data Collection Activities
D6282D6282/D6282M Guide for Direct Push Soil Sampling for Environmental Si
...