Standard Practice for Preparation of Sediment Samples for Chemical Analysis

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The chemical analysis of sediments, collected from such locations as streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans can provide information of environmental significance.
Sediment samples are inherently heterogeneous in that they contain occluded water in varying and unpredictable amounts and may contain foreign objects or material not ordinarily considered as sediment, 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.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes standard procedures for preparation of test samples (including the removal of occluded water and moisture) of field samples collected from locations such as streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans.
1.2 These procedures are applicable to the determination of volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile constituents of sediments.
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 precautionary statement, see Note 3.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
30-Jun-2005
Current Stage
Ref Project

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ASTM D3976-92(2005) - Standard Practice for Preparation of Sediment Samples for Chemical Analysis
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:D3976–92(Reapproved 2005)
Standard Practice for
Preparation of Sediment Samples for Chemical Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3976; 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 sis.Largeobjectsaremechanicallyremovedandsmallonesare
eliminated by sieving the sample through a 10-mesh (2-mm
1.1 This practice describes standard procedures for prepa-
openings) sieve.
ration of test samples (including the removal of occluded water
4.2 Wet, sieved samples are mixed for preliminary homog-
and moisture) of field samples collected from locations such as
enization, then allowed to settle to remove most of the
streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans.
occluded water.
1.2 These procedures are applicable to the determination of
4.3 Moisture determinations are made on separate samples
volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile constituents of sedi-
from those analyzed for volatile or semivolatile constituents.
ments.
4.4 Analyses for volatile constituents are made using wet,
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
settled samples from which supernatant liquid has been re-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
moved by decantation. The results are corrected to those that
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
would have been obtained on samples dried to constant weight
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
at 105 6 2°C, on the basis of a moisture determination using
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific
a separate sample.
precautionary statement, see Note 3.
4.5 Analyses for semivolatile constituents (for example,
2. Referenced Documents mercury) are made on samples previously dried at a tempera-
ture found to be adequate for the purpose, and specified in the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
corresponding analytical procedure.
D596 Guide for Reporting Results of Analysis of Water
4.6 Analyses for nonvolatile constituents are made on
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
samples previously dried to constant weight at 105 6 2°C.
D1192 Guide for Equipment for SamplingWater and Steam
4.7 A flow diagram, outlining typical procedures, is shown
in Closed Conduits
in Fig. 1.
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
D4410 Terminology for Fluvial Sediment
5. Significance and Use
3. Terminology
5.1 Thechemicalanalysisofsediments,collectedfromsuch
locations as streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans can
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this prac-
provide information of environmental significance.
tice, refer to Terminologies D1129 and D4410.
5.2 Sediment samples are inherently heterogeneous in that
4. Summary of Practice
they contain occluded water in varying and unpredictable
amounts and may contain foreign objects or material not
4.1 Samples collected (see Practices D3370 and Specifica-
ordinarily considered as sediment, the inclusion of which
tion D1192) in the field are screened to remove foreign objects
would result in inaccurate analysis.
prior to homogenization for chemical examination and analy-
5.3 Standard methods for separating foreign objects to
facilitate homogenization will minimize errors due to poor
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and
mixing and inclusion of extraneous material.
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.07 on Sediments, Geomorphology,
5.4 Standardized procedures for drying provide a means for
and Open-Channel Flow.
Current edition approved July 1, 2005. Published August 2005. Originally reporting analytical values to a common dry weight basis.
approved in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as D3976 – 92 (2001).
DOI: 10.1520/D3976-92R05.
6. Preliminary Treatment of Field Samples
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
6.1 Theanalyticalsampleisarbitrarilydefinedasthatwhich
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 passes a 10-mesh (approximately 2-mm openings) sieve. The
the ASTM website.
purpose of this is to provide a basis for discrimination of
Withdrawn.
sediment and foreign objects or materials. Stainless steel or
Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D3976–92 (2005)
FIG. 1 Flow diagram for Sediment-Sample Treatment
nylonsievesmaybeusedwheninorganicconstituentsaretobe 6.5.1 Store the material, as prepared above, in contact with
determined. Stainless steel or brass sieves are suitable for use its supernatant liquid, until time of use for chemical examina-
when organic substances are to be determined. tion.
NOTE 1—For inorganic analyses, stainless steel sieves are acceptable NOTE 3—Precaution: Samples intended for both organic and inorganic
provided the mesh is not soldered or welded to the frame. For organic compound analysis may undergo changes in composition during storage.
analyses, organic materials such as rubber or plastics should not be used The analytical method should specify the conditions necessary to assure
in the storage or handling of samples. requisite stability. In the absence of specific instructions, storage at a
temperature of 4°C or lower for a period of time not to exceed 1 week is
6.2 Sieve dry samples without further pretreatment and
recommended, although it is known
...

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