ASTM_D_4839_-_03_2011.pdf

Designation:D483903(Reapproved 2011)Standard Test Method forTotal Carbon and Organic Carbon in Water by Ultraviolet,orPersulfate Oxidation,or Both,and Infrared Detection1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4839;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers the determination of totalcarbon(TC),inorganic carbon(IC),and total organic carbon(TOC)in water,wastewater,and seawater in the range from 0.1mg/L to 4000 mg/L of carbon.1.2 This test method was used successfully with reagentwater spiked with sodium carbonate,acetic acid,and pyridine.It is the users responsibility to ensure the validity of this testmethod for waters of untested matrices.1.3 This test method is applicable only to carbonaceousmatter in the sample that can be introduced into the reactionzone.The syringe needle or injector opening size generallylimit the maximum size of particles that can be so introduced.1.4 In addition to laboratory analyses,this test method maybe applied to stream monitoring.1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D1129 Terminology Relating to WaterD1192 Guide for Equipment for Sampling Water and Steamin Closed Conduits(Withdrawn 2003)3D1193 Specification for Reagent WaterD2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias ofApplicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on WaterD3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed ConduitsD4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Waterby High Temperature Oxidation and by CoulometricDetectionD5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specificationsfor Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms used in this testmethod,refer to Terminology D1129.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 inorganic carbon(IC)carbon in the form of carbondioxide,carbonate ion,or bicarbonate ion.3.2.2 total organic carbon(TOC)carbon in the form oforganic compounds.3.2.3 total carbon(TC)the sum of IC and TOC.3.2.4 refractory materialthat which cannot be oxidizedcompletely under the test method conditions.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 FundamentalsCarbon can occur in water as an inor-ganic and organic compound.This test method can be used tomake independent measurements of IC,TOC,and TC,and canalso determine IC by the difference of TC and TOC,and TOCas the difference of TC and IC.4.2 The essentials of this test method are:(a)removal of IC,if desired,by acidification of the sample and sparging bycarbon-free gas;(b)conversion of remaining carbon to CO2byaction of persulfate,aided either by elevated temperature orultraviolet(UV)radiation;(c)detection of CO2that is sweptout of the reactor by a gas stream;and(d)conversion ofdetector signal to a display of carbon concentration in mg/L.Adiagram of suitable apparatus is given in Fig.1.5.Significance and Use5.1 This test method is used for determination of the carboncontent of water from a variety of natural,domestic,andindustrial sources.In its most common form,this test method1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Waterand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.06 on Methods forAnalysis forOrganic Substances in Water.Current edition approved May 1,2011.Published June 2011.Originallyapproved in 1988.Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D4839 03.DOI:10.1520/D4839-03R11.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 is used to measure organic carbon as a means of monitoringorganic pollutants in industrial wastewater.These measure-ments are also used in monitoring waste treatment processes.5.2 The relationship of TOC to other water quality param-eters such as chemical oxygen demand(COD)and total oxygendemand(TOD)is described in the literature.46.Interferences and Limitations6.1 The oxidation of dissolved carbon to CO2is broughtabout at relatively low temperatures by the chemical action ofreactive species produced by hot or UV-irradiated persulfateions.Even if oxygen is used as the sparging g