ASTM_D_3859_-_08.pdf

Designation:D385908Standard Test Methods forSelenium in Water1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3859;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 These test methods cover the determination of dissolvedand total recoverable selenium in most waters and wastewaters.Both test methods utilize atomic absorption procedures,asfollows:SectionsTest Method AGaseous Hydride AAS27 to 16Test Method BGraphite Furnace AAS17 to 261.2 These test methods are applicable to both inorganic andorganic forms of dissolved selenium.They are applicable alsoto particulate forms of the element,provided that they aresolubilized in the appropriate acid digestion step.However,certain selenium-containing heavy metallic sediments may notundergo digestion.1.3 These test methods are most applicable within thefollowing ranges:Test Method AGaseous HydrideAAS21 to 20 g/LTest Method BGraphite FurnaceAAS2 to 100 g/LThese ranges may be extended(with a corresponding loss inprecision)by decreasing the sample size or diluting the originalsample,but concentrations much greater than the upper limitsare more conveniently determined by flame atomic absorptionspectrometry.1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.5 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 11.12 and 13.14.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:3D1129 Terminology Relating to WaterD1193 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 ConduitsD3919 Practice for Measuring Trace Elements in Water byGraphite Furnace Atomic Absorption SpectrophotometryD4841 Practice for Estimation of Holding Time for WaterSamples Containing Organic and Inorganic ConstituentsD5810 Guide for Spiking into Aqueous SamplesD5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specificationsfor Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in these test methods,refer to Terminology D1129.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 total recoverable seleniuman arbitrary analyticalterm relating to the recoverable forms of selenium that aredeterminable by the digestion procedures included in these testmethods.4.Significance and Use4.1 In most natural waters selenium concentrations seldomexceed 10 g/L.However,the runoff from certain types ofseleniferous soils at various times of the year can produceconcentrations as high as several hundred micrograms per litre.Additionally,industrial contamination can be a significantsource of selenium in rivers and streams.4.2 High concentrations of selenium in drinking water havebeen suspected of being toxic to animal life.Selenium is apriority pollutant and all public water agencies are required tomonitor its concentration.1These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 onWater and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.05 on InorganicConstituents in Water.Current edition approved Oct.1,2008.Published October 2008.Originallyapproved in 1984.Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D3859 03.DOI:10.1520/D3859-08.2Lansford,M.,McPherson,E.M.,and Fishman,M.J.,Atomic AbsorptionNewsletter,Vol 13(4),1974,pp.103105.Pollack,E.N.,and West,S.J.,AtomicAbsorption Newsletter,Vol 12(1),1973,pp.68.3For 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.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 4.3 These test methods determine the dominant species ofselenium reportedly found in most natural and wastewaters,including selenities,selenates,and organo-selenium com-pounds.5.Purity of Reagents5.1 Reagent grade chemicals shall be used in all tests.Unless otherwise indicated,it is intended that all reagents shallconform to the specifications of the Committee on AnalyticalReagents of the American Chemical Society,where suchspecifications are available.4Other grades may be used,pro-vided it is ascertained that the reagent is of sufficiently highpurity to permit its use without lessening the accuracy of thedetermination.5.2 Purity of WaterUnless otherwise indicated,referenceto water shall be understood to mean reagent water conf