ASTM: D5907: Matter, Filterable and Nonfilterable, in Water

Summary
Analytes
Revision
Data and Sites

Official Method Name

Standard Test Method for Filterable and Nonfilterable Matter in Water

Current Revision

Current edition approved May 10, 1996. Originally published as D5907-96

Media

WATER

Instrumentation

Gravimetry

Method Subcategory

Physical

Method Source

ASTM

Citation

Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Section 11, Water and Environmental Technology, Volume 11.01, Water (I)

Brief Method Summary

A well-mixed sample is filtered through a weighed standard glass fiber filter. The suspended solids are retained on the filter, which is dried at 105^oC and weighed. The increased mass on the filter represents the nonfilterable matter.
The filtrate may be used to determine the filterable matter. The filtered sample (liquid phase) is evaporated to dryness and heated to 180^oC in a tared vessel to a constant weight.

Scope and Application

This test method covers the determination of filterable and nonfilterable matter in drinking, surface, and saline waters, domestic and industrial wastes. The practical range of the determination of nonfilterable particulate matter is 4 to 20000 mg/L. The practical range of the determination of filterable matter is 10 to 20000 mg/L.

Applicable Concentration Range

4-20,000 for TSS and 10-20,000 for TDS mg/L

Interferences

For some samples, chemical reactions may cause some materials to change from one phase to another. For example, in some groundwaters, ferrous ions may form insoluble ferric hydroxides. Softened water high in carbonates may precipitate calcium carbonate. In such cases, holding time may have a critical impact upon both the filterable and nonfilterable matter.
This test method is not meant to include nonrepresentative particulates such as leaves, sticks, insects, fish, etc. These should be removed before the analysis.
Some materials may decompose or volatilize at the required temperature. Other substances, such as glycerin or sulfuric acid, will remain liquid at the required temperature, giving variable results. Oils and greases may present similar problems and can end up in either the filterable or nonfilterable portion.
Suspended solids samples high in dissolved matter, such as saline waters, brines, and some wastes, may be subject to a positive interference by the retention of dissolved matter, such as salts and sugars, on the filter.
Clogging of the filter with too fine or too much material will prolong the filtering time and retain smaller particles that would normally pass through the filter, thus giving elevated values to nonfilterable matter and low values to the filterable matter. Biological material, such as algae, may also prolong filtration time or plug the filter.
Some samples may be hygroscopic, requiring prolonged drying, extra careful desiccation, and rapid weighing. For filterable matter, samples highly mineralized or high in bicarbonate may require careful and possibly prolonged drying. For the bicarbonate, the extended drying may be needed to ensure complete conversion to carbonate.
For filterable matter, excessive residue in the dish may cause the formation of a water-trapping crust, giving elevated values.

Quality Control Requirements

A duplicate and known control sample should be run each day that a sample is analyzed. The duplicate and control sample shall meet satisfactory limits as established by the control chart before an analysis is considered satisfactory.
Until such time as other quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures are established, it is recommended that the user use Practice D 4210 and Guide D 3856 as guides for establishing QA/QC.
Before this test method is applied to the analysis of samples, the analyst shall establish his/her own precision and bias data.

Sample Handling

Collect the sample in accordance with the applicable ASTM standard as follows: Specification D 1192 and Practices D 3370.

Maximum Holding Time

Relative Cost

Unknown

Sample Preparation Methods

This method has 2 analytes associated with it.

Analyte	Detection Level	Bias	Precision	Pct False Positive	Pct False Negative	Spiking Level
Total Dissolved Solids(E-10173) Residue, Filterable TDS Total Dissolved Solids	10.000 mg/L	93% Rec (ML)	15.60			135.00 mg/L
Total Suspended Solids(E-10162) Residue, Non-filterable TSS Total Suspended Solids	4.000 mg/L	98% Rec (ML)	4.10			50.00 mg/L

Precision Descriptor Notes:	Six independent laboratories and operators successfully completed the round robin study for filterable matter. Six to eleven independent laboratories successfully completed the round robin study for nonfilterable matter. The precision and bias evaluation for this test method was conducted using a Youden pair design. The material tested was a purchased commercial suspended solids material in an unspecified mixture of salt. The material is only available at the maximum concentration tested. Other concentrations were created for testing by diluting the original solution. The precision and bias statement reflects only the results for this specified matrix and may not reflect other matrices. The material tested was the only material known to the committee to be available in a liquid form that can test all aspects of the test method. The limit of available known material in a form that can test all aspects of this test method prohibits testing the full range of the method.
Detection Level Note:	None.

Precision Descriptor Notes:

Six independent laboratories and operators successfully completed the round robin study for filterable matter. Six to eleven independent laboratories successfully completed the round robin study for nonfilterable matter. The precision and bias evaluation for this test method was conducted using a Youden pair design. The material tested was a purchased commercial suspended solids material in an unspecified mixture of salt. The material is only available at the maximum concentration tested. Other concentrations were created for testing by diluting the original solution. The precision and bias statement reflects only the results for this specified matrix and may not reflect other matrices. The material tested was the only material known to the committee to be available in a liquid form that can test all aspects of the test method. The limit of available known material in a form that can test all aspects of this test method prohibits testing the full range of the method.

Detection Level Note:

None.

Revision	PDF/Link
Current edition approved May 10, 1996. Originally published as D5907-96

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ASTM: D5907: Matter, Filterable and Nonfilterable, in Water

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