ASTM International

Standard Test Methods for Sulfur Dioxide Content of the Atmosphere (West-Gaeke Method)
 N D2914

Annotation

These test methods cover the bubbler collection and colorimetric determination of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the ambient or workplace atmosphere.

These test methods are applicable for determining SO2 over the range from approximately 25 g/m3 (0.01 ppm(v)) to 1000 g/m3 (0.4 ppm(v)), corresponding to a solution concentration of 0.03 g SO2/mL to 1.3 g SO2/mL. Beer's law is followed through the working analytical range from 0.02 g SO2/mL to 1.4 g SO2/mL.

The lower limit of detection is 0.075 g SO2/mL (1),2 representing an air concentration of 25 g SO2/m3 (0.01 ppm(v)) in a 30–min sample, or 13 g SO2/m3 (0.005 ppm(v)) in a 24–h sample.

These test methods incorporate sampling for periods between 30 min and 24 h.

These test methods describe the determination of the collected (impinged) samples. A Method A and a Method B are described.

Method A is preferred over Method B, as it gives the higher sensitivity, but it has a higher blank. Manual Method B is pH-dependent, but is more suitable with spectrometers having a spectral band width greater than 20 nm.

NOTE 1—These test methods are applicable at concentrations below 25 g/m3 by sampling larger volumes of air if the absorption efficiency of the particular system is first determined, as described in Annex A4.

NOTE 2—Concentrations higher than 1000 g/m3 can be determined by using smaller gas volumes, larger collection volumes, or by suitable dilution of the collected sample with absorbing solution prior to analysis.