ASTM D6722-11

Standard Test Method for Total Mercury in Coal and Coal Combustion Residues by Direct Combustion Analysis

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The emission of mercury during coal combustion can be an environmental concern.
When representative test portions are analyzed according to this procedure, the total mercury is representative of concentrations in the sample.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover procedures to determine the total mercury content in a sample of coal or coal combustion residue.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 Warning—Mercury has been designated by EPA and many state agencies as a hazardous material that can cause central nervous system, kidney, and liver damage. Mercury, or its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution should be taken when handling mercury and mercury-containing products. See the applicable product Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for details and EPA’s website (http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm) for additional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury or mercury-containing products, or both, in your state may be prohibited by state law.
1.4 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-May-2011
• ICS: 71.060.10 - Chemical elements
• Technical Committee: D05 - Coal and Coke
• Drafting Committee: D05.29 - Major Elements in Ash and Trace Elements of Coal

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D6722-01(2006) - Standard Test Method for Total Mercury in Coal and Coal Combustion Residues by Direct Combustion Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• Replaced By: ASTM D6722-19 - Standard Test Method for Total Mercury in Coal and Coal Combustion Residues by Direct Combustion Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2019

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: D6722 − 11
Standard Test Method for
Total Mercury in Coal and Coal Combustion Residues by
1
Direct Combustion Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6722; 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.
1. Scope D3180Practice for Calculating Coal and Coke Analyses
from As-Determined to Different Bases
1.1 These test methods cover procedures to determine the
D4621Guide for Quality Management in an Organization
total mercury content in a sample of coal or coal combustion
3
That Samples or Tests Coal and Coke (Withdrawn 2010)
residue.
D7582Test Methods for Proximate Analysis of Coal and
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
Coke by Macro Thermogravimetric Analysis
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
IEEE/ASTM SI 10Standard for Use of the International
standard.
System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
1.3 Warning—Mercury has been designated by EPA and
3. Terminology
many state agencies as a hazardous material that can cause
central nervous system, kidney, and liver damage. Mercury, or
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to Terminology D121.
materials.Cautionshouldbetakenwhenhandlingmercuryand
4. Summary of Test Method
mercury-containing products. See the applicable product Ma-
terial Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for details and EPA’s website
4.1 Controlled heating of the analysis sample in oxygen is
(http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm) for additional informa-
usedtoliberatemercury.Thesampleisheatedtodrynessinthe
tion. Users should be aware that selling mercury or mercury-
instrument and then thermally and chemically decomposed.
containingproducts,orboth,inyourstatemaybeprohibitedby
The decomposition products are carried by flowing oxygen to
state law.
the catalytic section of the furnace, where oxidation is com-
pleted and halogens as well as nitrogen and sulfur oxides are
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
trapped. The remaining decomposition products are carried to
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
a gold amalgamator that selectively traps mercury. After the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
system is flushed with oxygen to remove any remaining
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
decomposition products, the amalgamator is rapidly heated,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
releasing mercury vapor. Flowing oxygen carries the mercury
vapor through absorbance cells positioned in the light path of
2. Referenced Documents
2 a single wavelength atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Absorbance peak height or peak area, as a function of mercury
D121Terminology of Coal and Coke
concentration, is measured at 253.7 nm.
D2013/D2013MPractice for Preparing Coal Samples for
Analysis NOTE 1—Mercury and mercury salts can be volatized at low tempera-
tures. Precautions against inadvertent mercury loss should be taken when
D3173Test Method for Moisture in theAnalysis Sample of
using this method.
Coal and Coke
5. Significance and Use
5.1 Theemissionofmercuryduringcoalcombustioncanbe
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal
an environmental concern.
and Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.29 on Major
Elements in Ash and Trace Elements of Coal.
5.2 When representative test portions are analyzed accord-
Current edition approved June 1, 2011. Published June 2011. Originally
ing to this procedure, the total mercury is representative of
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D6722–01(2006).
concentrations in the sample.
DOI: 10.1520/D6722-11.
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
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
the ASTM website. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D6722 − 11
6. Apparatus from stack gases.The absorbed mercury is unevenly dispersed
in the tubes. The activated carbon material in smaller absorp-
6.1 There are several configurations of the instrumental
tion tubes (100-200 mg) may be analyzed directly without
componentsthatcanbeusedsatisfactorilyforthistestmethod.
further preparatio
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:D6722–01 (Reapproved 2006) Designation: D6722 – 11
Standard Test Method for
Total Mercury in Coal and Coal Combustion Residues by
1
Direct Combustion Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6722; 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 These test methods cover procedures to determine the total mercury content in a sample of coal or coal combustion residue.
1.2The values stated in SI units are regarded as the standard.
1.3
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 Warning—Mercury has been designated by EPA and many state agencies as a hazardous material that can cause central
nervous system, kidney, and liver damage. Mercury, or its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution
should be taken when handling mercury and mercury-containing products. See the applicable product Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS) for details and EPA’s website (http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm) for additional information. Users should be aware
that selling mercury or mercury-containing products, or both, in your state may be prohibited by state law.
1.4 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D121 Terminology of Coal and Coke
D20132013/D2013M Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Analysis
D3173 Test Method for Moisture in the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke
D3180 Practice for Calculating Coal and Coke Analyses from As-Determined to Different Bases
D4621 Guide for Quality Management in an Organization That Samples or Tests Coal and Coke
D5142Test Methods for Proximate Analysis of the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke by Instrumental Procedures 7582 Test
Methods for Proximate Analysis of Coal and Coke by Macro Thermogravimetric Analysis
IEEE/ASTM SI 10 Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to Terminology D121.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 Controlled heating of the analysis sample in oxygen is used to liberate mercury. The sample is heated to dryness in the
instrument and then thermally and chemically decomposed. The decomposition products are carried by flowing oxygen to the
catalytic section of the furnace, where oxidation is completed and halogens as well as nitrogen and sulfur oxides are trapped. The
remainingdecompositionproductsarecarriedtoagoldamalgamatorthatselectivelytrapsmercury.Afterthesystemisflushedwith
oxygen to remove any remaining decomposition products, the amalgamator is rapidly heated, releasing mercury vapor. Flowing
oxygen carries the mercury vapor through absorbance cells positioned in the light path of a single wavelength atomic absorption
spectrophotometer. Absorbance peak height or peak area, as a function of mercury concentration, is measured at 253.7 nm.
NOTE 1—Mercury and mercury salts can be volatized at low temperatures. Precautions against inadvertent mercury loss should be taken when using
this method.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal and Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.29 on Major Elements in
Ash and Trace Elements of Coal.
Current edition approved AprilJune 1, 2006.2011. Published April 2006.June 2011. Originally approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 20012006 as
D6722–01(2006). DOI: 10.1520/D6722-01R06.10.1520/D6722-11.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM 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

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D6722 – 11
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The emission of mercury during coal combustion can be an environmental concern.
5.2 When representative te
...