ASTM_D_3223_-_17.pdf

Designation:D322317Standard Test Method forTotal Mercury in Water1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3223;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.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S.Department of Defense.1.Scope*1.1 This test method2covers the determination of totalmercury in water in the range from 0.5 to 10.0 g Hg/L(1).3The test method is applicable to fresh waters,saline waters,andsome industrial and sewage effluents.It is the users responsi-bility to ensure the validity of this test method for waters ofuntested matrices.1.1.1 The analyst should recognize that the precision andbias of this standard may be affected by the other constituentsin all waters,as tap,industrial,river,and wastewaters.The coldvapor atomic absorption measurement portion of this method isapplicable to the analysis of materials other than water(sediments,biological materials,tissues,etc.)if,and only if,aninitial procedure for digesting and oxidizing the sample iscarried out,ensuring that the mercury in the sample isconverted to the mercuric ion,and is dissolved in aqueousmedia(2,3).1.2 Both organic and inorganic mercury compounds may beanalyzed by this procedure if they are first converted tomercuric ions.Using potassium persulfate and potassiumpermanganate as oxidants,and a digestion temperature of95C,approximately 100%recovery of organomercury com-pounds can be obtained(2,4).1.3 The range of the test method may be changed byinstrument or recorder expansion or both,and by using a largervolume of sample.1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.5 Amethod for the disposal of mercury-containing wastesis also presented(Appendix X1)(5).1.6 WarningMercury has been designated by many regu-latory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause seriousmedical issues.Mercury,or its vapor,has been demonstrated tobe hazardous to health and corrosive to materials.Cautionshould be taken when handling mercury and mercury contain-ing products.See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet(SDS)for additional information.Users should be aware thatselling mercury and/or mercury containing products into yourstate or country may be prohibited by law.1.7 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.For specific hazardstatements,see 1.6 and 7.8.1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-ization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards,Guides and Recom-mendations issued by the World Trade Organization TechnicalBarriers to Trade(TBT)Committee.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:4D512 Test Methods for Chloride Ion In WaterD1129 Terminology Relating to WaterD1193 Specification for Reagent WaterD1245 Practice for Examination of Water-Formed Depositsby Chemical MicroscopyD1252 Test Methods for Chemical Oxygen Demand(Di-chromate Oxygen Demand)of WaterD1426 Test Methods for Ammonia Nitrogen In WaterD2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias ofApplicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on WaterD3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed ConduitsD4691 Practice for Measuring Elements in Water by FlameAtomic Absorption Spectrophotometry1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Waterand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.05 on Inorganic Constituentsin Water.Current edition approved June 1,2017.Published June 2017.Originallyapproved in 1979.Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D3223 12.DOI:10.1520/D3223-17.2Adapted from research investigations by the U.S.Environmental ProtectionAgencys Analytical Quality Control Laboratory,Cincinnati,OH,and Region IVSurveillance and Analysis Division,Chemical Services Branch,Athens,GA.3The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the references at the end of thistest method.4For 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.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United StatesThis international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of Int