ASTM D4980-89

Standard Test Methods for Screening of pH in Waste

SCOPE
1.1 These test methods are used to determine the pH of a hazardous waste liquid, sludge, semisolid and solid.  Sections Test Method A---pH Screening by pH Paper 9 to 14 Test Method B---pH Screening by Electrometric 15 to 22 Measurement
1.2 Test Method A uses a wide-range pH paper for a rapid indication of pH to within about 1 pH unit.
1.3 Test Method B uses a pH meter to measure within about 0.1 pH unit.
1.4 These test methods are designed and intended as a preliminary test to complement the more sophisticated quantitative analytical techniques that may be used to determine pH. These test methods offer, to the user, the option and the ability to screen waste for potentially hazardous levels of acidity and alkalinity when the more sophisticated techniques are not available and the total waste composition is unknown.
1.5 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems 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. Specific hazard information is given in Section 6.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-1988
• Technical Committee: D34 - Waste Management
• Drafting Committee: D34.01.05 - Screening Methods

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D4980-89(2003) - Standard Test Methods for Screening of pH in Waste (Withdrawn 2009)
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D6448-16(2022) - Standard Specification for Industrial Burner Fuels from Used Lubricating Oils
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1989
• Referred By: ASTM D5232-19 - Standard Practice for Determining the Stability and Miscibility of a Solid, Semi-Solid, or Liquid Waste Material
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1989

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 4980 – 89
Standard Test Methods for
Screening of pH in Waste
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4980; 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 4. Significance and Use
1.1 These test methods are used to determine the pH of a 4.1 These test methods are intended for use by those in the
hazardous waste liquid, sludge, semisolid and solid. waste management industries to characterize waste streams by
pH. These methods will identify those waste materials that may
Sections
Test Method A—pH Screening by pH Paper 9-14
dictate a specific waste management procedure due to high
Test Method B—pH Screening by Electrometric 15-22
acidity or alkalinity.
Measurement
1.2 Test Method A uses a wide-range pH paper for a rapid 5. Reagents
indication of pH to within about 1 pH unit.
5.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
1.3 Test Method B uses a pH meter to measure within about
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
0.1 pH unit.
all reagents conform to the specifications of the Committee on
1.4 These test methods are designed and intended as a
Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society where
preliminary test to complement the more sophisticated quanti-
such specifications are available. Other grades may be used,
tative analytical techniques that may be used to determine pH.
provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of sufficiently
These test methods offer, to the user, the option and the ability
high purity to permit its use without lessening the accuracy of
to screen waste for potentially hazardous levels of acidity and
the determination.
alkalinity when the more sophisticated techniques are not
5.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, references
available and the total waste composition is unknown.
to water shall be understood to mean reagent water as defined
1.5 This standard may involve hazardous materials, opera-
by Type III of ASTM Specification D 1193.
tions, and equipment. This standard does not purport to
6. Hazards
address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is
the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
6.1 Avoid inhalation and skin and eye contact of all hazard-
appropriate safety and health practices and determine the
ous materials.
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific
6.2 All measurements shall be done in a laboratory fume
hazard information is given in Section 6.
hood.
2. Referenced Documents
7. Sampling
2.1 ASTM Standards:
7.1 Collect a representative sample of the waste.
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
7.2 Samples should be analyzed as soon as possible after
D 1293 Test Methods for pH of Water
collection.
3. Terminology
8. Report
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
8.1 The report shall include at a minimum:
3.1.1 screening analysis—a preliminary qualitative or semi
8.1.1 Sample identification,
quantitative test developed from classical qualitative and
8.1.2 Date of test,
quantitative techniques that is designed to efficiently give the
8.1.3 Reference to the procedure applied, that is, test
user specific information about a waste that will aid in
method and if applicable, dilution ratio,
determining waste identification, process compatibility and
8.1.4 Analytical results, and
safety in handling.
8.1.5 Identification of the analyst.
1 3
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on “Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications,” Am. Chemi-
Waste Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.05 on cal Soc., Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not listed by
Screening Methods. the American Chemical Society, see “Reagent Chemicals and Standards,” by Joseph
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1989. Published December 1989. Rosin, D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., New York, NY, and the “United States
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. Pharmacopeia.”
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D 4980
TEST METHOD A—pH SCREENING BY pH 17. Interferences
PAPER
17.1 The glass electrode, in general, is not subject to
solution interferences from color, turbidity, colloidal matter,
9. Summary of Test Method A
oxidants, reductants, or high salinity.
9.1 pH Paper—A small portion of the sample is introduced
17.2 Sodium error at pH levels >10 can be reduced or
onto full range pH paper. The results are visually compared to
eliminated by using a low sodium error electrode.
the appropriate color chart and reported to 61 pH unit.
17.3 Coatings of oily material or particulate matter can
impair electrode response. These coatings can usually be
10. Interferences
removed by gentle wiping or detergent washing, followed by
10.1 Materials that mask the pH paper, for example, oils,
dilute water rinsing. An additional treatment with hydrochloric
syrups, paint, etc. cause the visual detection of color on the
acid 1 + 9, (1 volume HCl added to 9 volumes of H O) may be
paper to be difficult.
necessary to remove any remaining film.
10.2 Strong dyes and solutions of deep colors can give false
17.4 Temperature effects on the electrometric determination
results.
of pH arise from two sources. The first is caused by the change
10.3 Oxidizers can bleach the pH paper.
in electrode output at various temperatures. This interference
can be controlled with instruments having temperature com-
11. Apparatus
pensation or by calibrating the electrode instrument system at
11.1 Stirring Rod, Spatula, and Disposable Pipet or Eye
the temperature of the samples. The second source of tempera-
Dropper, for transferring sample to test paper.
ture effects is the change of pH due to changes in the sample as
11.2 Disposable Beaker, Test Tube, etc.
the temperature changes. This error is sample dependent and
11.3 Vortex Mixer (optional).
cannot be controlled. It should, therefore, be noted by reporting
11.4 Separatory Funnel.
both the pH and temperature at the time of analysis.
12. Reagents and Materials
18. Apparatus
12.1 Full range pH paper with a stated precision of 1 pH
18.1 pH Meter, Laboratory of Field Model—A wide variety
unit and with a corresponding color chart.
of instruments are commercially ava
...