ASTM International

Standard Practice for Sampling, Storage, and Handling of Hydrocarbons for Mercury Analysis
 N D7482

Annotation

This practice covers the types of and preparation of containers found most suitable for the handling of hydrocarbon samples for the determination of total mercury.

This practice was developed for sampling streams where the mercury speciation is predominantly Hg(0) present as a mixture of dissolved Hg(0) atoms, adsorbed Hg(0) on particulates (for example, carbonaceous or mineral fines and Fe2O 3) and suspended droplets of metallic mercury.

The presence of suspended droplets of metallic mercury (often called “colloidal” mercury, since the droplet size can be very small) can make obtaining a representative sample very difficult for a variety of reasons (for example, non-isokinetic sampling of the liquid can result in over- or under-collection of suspended droplets and collection of mercury that has accumulated in dense larger drops and pools on the bottom of piping and in sample taps). Pay strict attention to the detailed procedure (Section 7) to ensure representative samples are collected.

When representative test portions are collected and analyzed in accordance with acceptable procedures, the total mercury is representative of concentrations in the sample.

The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

Warning—Mercury has been designated by EPA and many state agencies as a hazardous material that can cause central nervous system, kidney, and liver damage. Mercury, or its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution should be taken when handling mercury and mercury-containing products. See the applicable product Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for details and EPA’s website (http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm) for additional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury or mercurycontaining products, or both, in your state may be prohibited by state law.