ASTM D3919-04

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Designation: D 3919 – 04
Standard Practice for
Measuring Trace Elements in Water by Graphite Furnace
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Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3919; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents
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1.1 This practice covers the general considerations for the 2.1 ASTM Standards:
quantitative determination of trace elements in water and D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
wastewater by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectropho- D 1192 Specification for Equipment for Sampling Water
tometry. Furnace atomizers are a most useful means of extend- and Steam in Closed Conduits
ing detection limits; however, the practice should only be used D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
at concentration levels below the optimum range of direct D 2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
flame aspiration atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Be- Applicable Methods of Committee D19 on Water
cause of differences between various makes and models of D 3370 PracticesforSamplingWaterfromClosedConduits
satisfactory instruments, no detailed operating instructions can D 4841 Practice for Estimation of Holding Time for Water
be provided for each instrument. Instead, the analyst should Samples Containing Organic and Inorganic Constituents
follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of a D 5810 Guide for Spiking into Aqueous Samples
particular instrument. D 5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications
1.2 Wavelengths, estimated detection limits, and optimum for Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis
concentration ranges are given in the individual methods.
3. Terminology
Ranges may be increased or decreased by varying the volume
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this prac-
of sample injected or the instrumental settings or by the use of
a secondary wavelength. Samples containing concentrations tice, refer to Terminology D 1129.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
higher than those given in the optimum range may be diluted
3.2.1 graphite furnace—an electrothermal graphite device
or analyzed by other techniques.
1.3 This technique is generally not applicable to brines and capable of reaching the specified temperatures required by the
element being determined.
seawater. Special techniques such as separation of the trace
elements from the salt, careful temperature control through 3.2.2 platform or similar device— a flat, grooved or un-
grooved piece of pyrolytic graphite inserted in the graphite
ramping techniques, or matrix modification may be useful for
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these samples. tube on which the sample is placed (1).
1.4 The analyst is encouraged to consult the literature as
4. Summary of Practice
provided by the instrument manufacturer as well as various
4.1 The element is determined by an atomic absorption
trade journals and scientific publications.
spectrophotometerusedinconjunctionwithagraphitefurnace.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
The principle is essentially the same as with direct flame
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
aspiration atomic absorption except a furnace, rather than a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
flame,isusedtoatomizethesample.Theelementalatomstobe
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
measured are placed in the beam of radiation by increasing the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
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This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D19 on Water and contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. ForAnnual Book ofASTM
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.05 on Inorganic Constituents in Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Water. the ASTM website.
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Current edition approved March 1, 2004. Published April 2004. Originally The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
approved in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as D 3919 – 99. this standard.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D 3919 – 04
temperature of the furnace, thereby causing the injected speci- 6.2 Some types of interference problems encountered in
men to be volatilized. Radiation from a given excited element direct a
...