ASTM D4638-11

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 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
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. For a specific hazard statement, see 9.3.3.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2011
• ICS: 71.040.40 - Chemical analysis
• Technical Committee: D19 - Water
• Drafting Committee: D19.05 - Inorganic Constituents in Water

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4638-03(2007) - Standard Guide for Preparation of Biological Samples for Inorganic Chemical Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2011

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: D4638 − 11
StandardGuide 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* contamination, stored in plastic containers, and kept either at
4°Corfrozenuntilreturnedtoanadequatefacilityforanalysis.
1.1 This guide describes procedures for the preparation of
test samples collected from such locations as streams, rivers, 4.2 Before analysis, samples are allowed to return to room
ponds, lakes, estuaries, oceans, and toxicity tests and is
temperature. Large foreign objects are mechanically removed
applicable to such organisms as plankton, mollusks, fish, and from the samples based upon visual examination; smaller
plants.
foreign objects are also removed mechanically, with the aid of
a low-power microscope.
1.2 The procedures are applicable to the determination of
volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile inorganic constituents of
4.3 Wet samples of small organisms such as plankton, are
biological materials. Analyses may be carried out or reported
mixed for preliminary homogenization, then allowed to settle,
on either a dry or wet basis.
to remove most of the occluded water. Larger organisms, such
as fish, should be patted dry, using paper towels.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
4.4 Where less than a whole organism is to be analyzed,
standard.
tissueexcisionsaremadewithnonmetallictoolssuchasplastic
knives or TFE-fluorocarbon-coated scalpels.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
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
dry, original-sample basis, using the results of a moisture
2. Referenced Documents
2 determination carried out on a separate sample.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water 4.7 Analyses for semivolatile constituents are made on wet
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,
refer to Terminology D1129.
4.8 Analyses for nonvolatile constituents are made on
samples previously dried at a temperature (dependent on
4. Summary of Guide
constituents of interest), or using a procedure found to be
4.1 Samples are collected, where possible, with nonmetallic
adequate for the purpose, and specified in the corresponding
or TFE-fluorocarbon-coated sampling equipment to prevent
analytical procedure.
4.9 Digest the samples according to the procedures outlined
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D19 on Water and is
in Section 9.
the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.05 on Inorganic Constituents in
Water.
4.10 A flow diagram outlining typical procedures is shown
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2011. Published September 2011. Originally
in Fig. 1.
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D4638 – 03(07). DOI:
10.1520/D4638-11.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 5. Significance and Use
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.1 The chemical analysis of biological material, collected
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. from such locations as streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans can
*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

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D4638 − 11
FIG. 1 Flow Diagram for the Preparation of Biological Samples for Inorganic Analysis
provide information of environmental significance.The chemi- 6.1.3 Transfer the sample to a beaker and thoroughly mix it
cal analysis of biological material used in tox
...

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:D4638–03 (Reapproved 2007) Designation: D4638 – 11
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*
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
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
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. For a specific hazard statement, see 9.3.3.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this guide, refer to Terminology D1129.
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.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.05 on Inorganic Constituents in Water.
Current edition approved Dec.Sept. 1, 2007.2011. Published January 2008.September 2011. Originally approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 20032007 as
D4638 – 03(07). DOI: 10.1520/D4638-03R07.10.1520/D4638-11.
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.
*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

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D4638 – 11
4.10 A flow diagram outlining typical procedures is shown in Fig. 1.
5. Significance an
...