Standard Guide for Preparation of Biological Samples for Inorganic Chemical Analysis

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.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
30-Nov-2003
Technical Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

Relations

Buy Standard

Guide
ASTM D4638-03 - Standard Guide for Preparation of Biological Samples for Inorganic Chemical Analysis
English language
6 pages
sale 15% off
Preview
sale 15% off
Preview

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:D4638–03
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* from the samples based upon visual examination; smaller
foreign objects are also removed mechanically, with the aid of
1.1 This guide describes procedures for the preparation of
a low-power microscope.
test samples collected from such locations as streams, rivers,
4.3 Wet samples of small organisms such as plankton, are
ponds, lakes, estuaries, oceans, and toxicity tests and is
mixed for preliminary homogenization, then allowed to settle,
applicable to such organisms as plankton, mollusks, fish, and
to remove most of the occluded water. Larger organisms, such
plants.
as fish, should be patted dry, using paper towels.
1.2 The procedures are applicable to the determination of
4.4 Where less than a whole organism is to be analyzed,
volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile inorganic constituents of
tissueexcisionsaremadewithnonmetallictoolssuchasplastic
biological materials. Analyses may be carried out or reported
knives or TFE-fluorocarbon-coated scalpels.
on either a dry or wet basis.
4.5 Moisture determinations are made on separate samples
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
from those analyzed for volatile or semivolatile constituents.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.6 Analyses for volatile constituents are made using wet
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
samples from which supernatant liquid or occluded water has
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
been removed (see 4.3). The results may be calculated to the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific
dry, original-sample basis, using the results of a moisture
hazard statement, see 9.3.3.
determination carried out on a separate sample.
2. Referenced Documents 4.7 Analyses for semivolatile constituents are made on wet
2
samples or samples previously dried at a temperature (depen-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
dent on constituents of interest), or using a procedure, found to
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
be adequate for the purpose, and specified in the corresponding
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
analytical procedure.
3. Terminology
4.8 Analyses for nonvolatile constituents are made on
samples previously dried at a temperature (dependent on
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this guide,
constituents of interest), or using a procedure found to be
refer to Terminology D 1129.
adequate for the purpose, and specified in the corresponding
4. Summary of Guide
analytical procedure.
4.9 Digest the samples according to the procedures outlined
4.1 Samples are collected, where possible, with nonmetallic
in Section 9.
or TFE-fluorocarbon-coated sampling equipment to prevent
4.10 A flow diagram outlining typical procedures is shown
contamination, stored in plastic containers, and kept either at
in Fig. 1.
4°Corfrozenuntilreturnedtoanadequatefacilityforanalysis.
4.2 Before analysis, samples are allowed to return to room
5. Significance and Use
temperature. Large foreign objects are mechanically removed
5.1 The chemical analysis of biological material, collected
from such locations as streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans can
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D19 on Water and is
provide information of environmental significance.The chemi-
the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.05 on Inorganic Constituents in
cal analysis of biological material used in toxicity tests may be
Water.
useful to better interpret the toxicological results.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2003. Published January 2004. Originally
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as D 4638 – 95a (1999).
5.2 Many aquatic biological samples, either as a result of
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
their size, or their method of collection, are inherently hetero-
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
geneous in that they may contain occluded water in varying
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
and unpredictable amounts and may contain foreign objects or
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 ------
...

Questions, Comments and Discussion

Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.