ASTM D5198 : 17(2024)

Standard Practice for Nitric Acid Digestion of Solid Waste

Standard Details

1.1 This practice describes the partial digestion of solid waste using nitric acid for the subsequent determination of the total recoverable content of inorganic constituents.

1.2 This practice is to be used when the concentrations of total recoverable elements are to be determined from a waste sample. Total recoverable elements are often not equivalent to total elemental content, because of the solubility of the speciated forms of the element in the sample matrix. Recovery from refractory sample matrices, such as soils, is usually significantly less than total concentrations of the elements present.

Note 1: This practice has been used successfully for oily sludges and a municipal digested sludge standard (Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Sample No. 397). The practice may be applicable to some elements not listed above, such as arsenic, barium, selenium, cobalt, magnesium, and calcium. Refractory elements such as silicon, silver, and titanium, as well as organo-mercury, are not solubilized by this practice.

1.3 This practice has been divided into two methods, A and B, with Method A utilizing an electric hot plate and Method B utilizing an electric digestion block.

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

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.