ASTM D516-02

Standard Test Method for Sulfate Ion in Water

SCOPE
1.1 This turbidimetric test method covers the determination of sulfate in water in the range from 1 to 40 mg/L of sulfate ion (SO 4).
1.2 This test method was used successfully with drinking, ground, and surface waters. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested matrices.
1.3 Former gravimetric and volumetric test methods have been discontinued. Refer to Appendix X1 for historical information.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address 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: 09-Jan-2002
• ICS: 13.060.50 - Examination of water for chemical substances
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.05 - Inorganic Constituents in Water

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D516-90(1995)e1 - Standard Test Method for Sulfate Ion in Water
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Replaced By: ASTM D516-07 - Standard Test Method for Sulfate Ion in Water
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D4692-01(2017) - Standard Practice for Calculation and Adjustment of Sulfate Scaling Salts (CaSO<inf >4</inf>, SrSO<inf>4</inf>, and BaSO<inf>4</inf>) for Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4985-10(2023) - Standard Specification for Low Silicate Ethylene Glycol Base Engine Coolant for Heavy Duty Engines Requiring a Pre-Charge of Supplemental Coolant Additive (SCA)
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E1209-18 - Standard Practice for Fluorescent Liquid Penetrant Testing Using the Water-Washable Process
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4130-15 - Standard Test Method for Sulfate Ion in Brackish Water, Seawater, and Brines
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E1219-21 - Standard Practice for Fluorescent Liquid Penetrant Testing Using the Solvent-Removable Process
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM C1797-23 - Standard Specification for Ground Calcium Carbonate and Aggregate Mineral Fillers for use in Hydraulic Cement Concrete
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E1210-21 - Standard Practice for Fluorescent Liquid Penetrant Testing Using the Hydrophilic Post-Emulsification Process
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D8039-16(2023) - Standard Specification for Heat Transfer Fluids (HTF) for Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E1208-21 - Standard Practice for Fluorescent Liquid Penetrant Testing Using the Lipophilic Post-Emulsification Process
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4195-23 - Standard Guide for Water Analysis for Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Application
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM C375-22 - Standard Classification of Water Used in Milling of Porcelain Enamel
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM G91-11(2018) - Standard Practice for Monitoring Atmospheric SO<inf>2</inf> Deposition Rate for Atmospheric Corrosivity Evaluation
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D5752-10(2017) - Standard Specification for Supplemental Coolant Additives (SCAs) for Use in Precharging Coolants for Heavy-Duty Engines
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002

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 516–02
Standard Test Method for
1
Sulfate Ion in Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 516; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This turbidimetric test method covers the determination 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
ofsulfateinwaterintherangefrom1to40mg/Lofsulfateion method, refer to Terminology D1129.
−−
(SO ).
4
4. Summary of Test Method
1.2 This test method was used successfully with drinking,
ground, and surface waters. It is the user’s responsibility to 4.1 Sulfate ion is converted to a barium sulfate suspension
undercontrolledconditions.Asolutioncontainingglycerinand
ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested
matrices. sodium chloride is added to stabilize the suspension and
minimize interferences. The resulting turbidity is determined
1.3 Former gravimetric and volumetric test methods have
been discontinued. Refer to Appendix X1 for historical infor- by a nephelometer, spectrophotometer, or photoelectric colo-
rimeterandcomparedtoacurvepreparedfromstandardsulfate
mation.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address the safety solutions.
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
5. Significance and Use
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and
5.1 The determination of sulfate is important because it has
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
been reported that when this ion is present in excess of about
limitations prior to use.
250 mg/L in drinking water, it causes a cathartic action
2. Referenced Documents
(especially in children) in the presence of sodium and magne-
2.1 ASTM Standards: sium, and gives a bad taste to the water.
2
D1066 Practice for Sampling Steam
2 6. Interferences
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
6.1 Insoluble suspended matter in the sample must be
D1192 Specification for Equipment for Sampling Water
2
removed. Dark colors that can not be compensated for in the
and Steam in Closed Conduits
2
procedureinterferewiththemeasurementofsuspendedbarium
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
sulfate (BaSO ).
D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
4
2
6.2 Polyphosphates as low as 1 mg/L will inhibit barium
Applicable Methods of Committee D-19 on Water
sulfate precipitation causing a negative interference. Phospho-
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Con-
2
nates present in low concentrations, depending on the type of
duits
phosphonate, will also cause a negative interference. Silica in
D5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications
3
excess of 500 mg/L may precipitate along with the barium
for Standard Test Methods of Water Analysis
sulfate causing a positive interference. Chloride in excess of
E60 Practice for Photometric and Spectrophotometric
4
5000 mg/L will cause a negative interference. Aluminum,
Methods for the Chemical Analysis of Metals
polymers, and large quantities of organic material present in
E275 Practice for Describing and Measuring Performance
the test sample may cause the barium sulfate to precipitate
of Ultraviolet, Visible, and Near Infrared Spectrophotom-
5
nonuniformly. In the presence of organic matter certain bacte-
eters
ria may reduce sulfate to sulfide. To minimize the action of
sulfatereducingbacteria,samplesshouldberefrigeratedat4°C
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D19 on Water
when the presence of such bacteria is suspected.
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.05 on Inorganic Constituents
6.3 Although other ions normally found in water do not
in Water.
appear to interfere, the formation of the barium sulfate suspen-
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2002. Published April 2002. Originally
e1
published as D516–38T. Last previous edition D516–90 (95) .
sion is very critical. Determinations that are in doubt may be
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
checked by a gravimetric method in some cases, or by the
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.02.
4 procedure suggested in Note 2.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05.
5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.06.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D516–02
7. Apparatus sulfate ion content in milligrams per litre plotted against the
correspondingphotometerreadings(Note1).Preparestandards
7.1 Photometer—One of the following which are given in
by diluting with water 0.0, 2.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.
...