ASTM D4638-03(2007)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Preparation of Biological Samples for Inorganic Chemical Analysis
Standard Guide for Preparation of Biological Samples for Inorganic Chemical Analysis
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The chemical analysis of biological material, collected from such locations as streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans can provide information of environmental significance. The chemical analysis of biological material used in toxicity tests may be useful to better interpret the toxicological results.
Many aquatic biological samples, either as a result of their size, or their method of collection, are inherently heterogeneous in that they may contain occluded water in varying and unpredictable amounts and may contain foreign objects or material (for example, sediment) not ordinarily intended for analysis, the inclusion of which would result in inaccurate analysis.
Standard methods for separating foreign objects, to facilitate homogenization, will minimize errors due to poor mixing and inclusion of extraneous material.
Standardized procedures for drying provide a means for reporting analytical values to a common dry weight basis, if desired. Analyses may also be carried out or reported on a wet weight basis.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes procedures for the preparation of test samples collected from such locations as streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, estuaries, oceans, and toxicity tests and is applicable to such organisms as plankton, mollusks, fish, and plants.
1.2 The procedures are applicable to the determination of volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile inorganic constituents of biological materials. Analyses may be carried out or reported on either a dry or wet basis.
1.3 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. For a specific hazard statement, see 9.3.3.
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Designation:D4638–03 (Reapproved 2007)
Standard Guide for
Preparation of Biological Samples for Inorganic Chemical
1
Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4638; 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* 4.2 Before analysis, samples are allowed to return to room
temperature. Large foreign objects are mechanically removed
1.1 This guide describes procedures for the preparation of
from the samples based upon visual examination; smaller
test samples collected from such locations as streams, rivers,
foreign objects are also removed mechanically, with the aid of
ponds, lakes, estuaries, oceans, and toxicity tests and is
a low-power microscope.
applicable to such organisms as plankton, mollusks, fish, and
4.3 Wet samples of small organisms such as plankton, are
plants.
mixed for preliminary homogenization, then allowed to settle,
1.2 The procedures are applicable to the determination of
to remove most of the occluded water. Larger organisms, such
volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile inorganic constituents of
as fish, should be patted dry, using paper towels.
biological materials. Analyses may be carried out or reported
4.4 Where less than a whole organism is to be analyzed,
on either a dry or wet basis.
tissueexcisionsaremadewithnonmetallictoolssuchasplastic
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
knives or TFE-fluorocarbon-coated scalpels.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.5 Moisture determinations are made on separate samples
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
from those analyzed for volatile or semivolatile constituents.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.6 Analyses for volatile constituents are made using wet
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific
samples from which supernatant liquid or occluded water has
hazard statement, see 9.3.3.
been removed (see 4.3). The results may be calculated to the
2. Referenced Documents dry, original-sample basis, using the results of a moisture
2
determination carried out on a separate sample.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.7 Analyses for semivolatile constituents are made on wet
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
samples or samples previously dried at a temperature (depen-
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
dent on constituents of interest), or using a procedure, found to
3. Terminology
be adequate for the purpose, and specified in the corresponding
analytical procedure.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this guide,
4.8 Analyses for nonvolatile constituents are made on
refer to Terminology D1129.
samples previously dried at a temperature (dependent on
4. Summary of Guide
constituents of interest), or using a procedure found to be
adequate for the purpose, and specified in the corresponding
4.1 Samples are collected, where possible, with nonmetallic
analytical procedure.
or TFE-fluorocarbon-coated sampling equipment to prevent
4.9 Digest the samples according to the procedures outlined
contamination, stored in plastic containers, and kept either at
in Section 9.
4°Corfrozenuntilreturnedtoanadequatefacilityforanalysis.
4.10 A flow diagram outlining typical procedures is shown
in Fig. 1.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D19 on Water and is
the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.05 on Inorganic Constituents in
5. Significance and Use
Water.
5.1 The chemical analysis of biological material, collected
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2007. Published January 2008. Originally
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D4638 – 03. DOI:
from such locations as streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans can
10.1520/D4638-03R07.
provide information of environmental significance.The chemi-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
cal analysis of biological material used in toxicity tests may be
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
useful to better interpret the toxicological results.
the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4638–03 (2007)
FIG. 1 Flow Diagram for the Preparation of Biological Samples for Inorganic Analysis
5.2 Many aquatic biological samples, either as a result of number of small portions (at least fi
...
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:D 4638–95a (Reapproved 1999) Designation: D 4638 – 03 (Reapproved
2007)
Standard Guide for
Preparation of Biological Samples for Inorganic Chemical
1
Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4638; 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*
1.1 This guide describes procedures for the preparation of test samples collected from such locations as streams, rivers, ponds,
lakes, estuaries, oceans, and toxicity tests and is applicable to such organisms as plankton, mollusks, fish, and plants.
1.2 The procedures are applicable to the determination of volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile inorganic constituents of
biological materials. Analyses may be carried out or reported on either a dry or wet basis.
1.3 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. For a specific hazard statement, see 9.3.3.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this guide, refer to Terminology D 1129.
4. Summary of Guide
4.1 Samples are collected, where possible, with nonmetallic or TFE-fluorocarbon-coated sampling equipment to prevent
contamination, stored in plastic containers, and kept either at 4°C or frozen until returned to an adequate facility for analysis.
4.2 Before analysis, samples are allowed to return to room temperature. Large foreign objects are mechanically removed from
the samples based upon visual examination; smaller foreign objects are also removed mechanically, with the aid of a low-power
microscope.
4.3 Wet samples of small organisms such as plankton, are mixed for preliminary homogenization, then allowed to settle, to
remove most of the occluded water. Larger organisms, such as fish, should be patted dry, using paper towels.
4.4 Where less than a whole organism is to be analyzed, tissue excisions are made with nonmetallic tools such as plastic knives
or TFE-fluorocarbon-coated scalpels.
4.5 Moisture determinations are made on separate samples from those analyzed for volatile or semivolatile constituents.
4.6 Analyses for volatile constituents are made using wet samples from which supernatant liquid or occluded water has been
removed (see 4.3). The results may be calculated to the dry, original-sample basis, using the results of a moisture determination
carried out on a separate sample.
4.7 Analyses for semivolatile constituents are made on wet samples or samples previously dried at a temperature (dependent
on constituents of interest), or using a procedure, found to be adequate for the purpose, and specified in the corresponding
analytical procedure.
4.8 Analyses for nonvolatile constituents are made on samples previously dried at a temperature (dependent on constituents of
interest), or using a procedure found to be adequate for the purpose, and specified in the corresponding analytical procedure.
4.9 Digest the samples according to the procedures outlined in Section 9.
4.10 A flow diagram outlining typical procedures is shown in Fig. 1.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D-19D19 onWater and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.05 on Inorganic Constituents inWater.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1995.1, 2007. Published February 1996.January 2008. Originally published as D4638–86.approved in 1986. Last previous edition
D4638–95.approved in 2003 as D 4638 – 03.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol 11.01.volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D 4638 – 03 (2007)
FIG. 1 Flow Diagram for the Preparation of Biological Samples for Inorganic Analysis
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The chemica
...
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