ASTM D6232-00 - 10.6.2000
 
1. Scope

1.1 This guide covers criteria that should be considered when selecting sampling equipment for collecting environmental and waste samples for waste management activities. This guide includes a list of equipment that is used and is readily available. Many specialized sampling devices are not specifically included in this guide. However, the factors that should be weighed when choosing any piece of equipment are covered and remain the same for the selection of any piece of equipment. Sampling equipment described in this guide includes automatic samplers, pumps, bailers, tubes, scoops, spoons, shovels, dredges, coring and augering devices. The selection of sampling locations is outside the scope of this guide.

1.1.1 Table 1 lists selected equipment and its applicability to sampling matrices, including water (surface and ground), sediments, soils, liquids, multi-layered liquids, mixed solid-liquid phases, and consolidated and unconsolidated solids. The guide does not address specifically the collection of samples of any suspended materials from flowing rivers or streams. Refer to Guide D4411 for more information.

1.2 Table 2 presents the same list of equipment and its applicability for use based on compatibility of sample and equipment; volume of the sample required; physical requirements such as power, size, and weight; ease of operation and decontamination; and whether it is reusable or disposable.

1.3 Table 3 provides the basis for selection of suitable equipment by the use of an Index.

1.4 Lists of advantages and disadvantages of selected sampling devices and line drawings and narratives describing the operation of sampling devices are also provided.

1.5 The values stated in both inch-pound and SI units are to be regarded separately as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This guide cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgement. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This guide is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word "Standard" in the title of this guide means only that it has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

1.7 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D4342-84(1998)

Standard Practice for Collecting of Benthic Macroinvertebrates with Ponar Grab Sampler (Withdrawn 2003)

D4343-84(1998)

Standard Practice for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrates with Ekman Grab Sampler (Withdrawn 2003)

D6286-19

Standard Guide for Selection of Drilling and Direct Push Methods for Geotechnical and Environmental Subsurface Site Characterization

D6640-21

Standard Practice for Collection and Handling of Soils Obtained in Core Barrel Samplers for Environmental Investigations

D6699-24

Standard Practice for Sampling Liquids Using Bailers

D6151-25

Standard Practice for Using Hollow-Stem Augers for Geotechnical Exploration and Soil Sampling

D4411-03(2019)

Standard Guide for Sampling Fluvial Sediment in Motion

D4448-01(2019)

Standard Guide for Sampling Ground-Water Monitoring Wells

D4547-20

Standard Guide for Sampling Waste and Soils for Volatile Organic Compounds

D5314-92(2001)

Standard Guide for Soil Gas Monitoring in the Vadose Zone

D5358-93(2024)

Standard Practice for Sampling with a Dipper or Pond Sampler

D5680-14(2022)

Standard Practice for Sampling Unconsolidated Solids in Drums or Similar Containers

D5730-04

Standard Guide for Site Characterization for Environmental Purposes With Emphasis on Soil, Rock, the Vadose Zone and Groundwater (Withdrawn 2013)

D5781-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Dual-Wall Reverse-Circulation Drilling for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D5782-18(2026)

Standard Guide for Use of Direct Air-Rotary Drilling for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D6009-19

Standard Guide for Sampling Waste Piles

D4387-02

Standard Guide for Selecting Grab Sampling Devices for Collecitng Benthic Macroinvertebrates (Withdrawn 2003)

D4687-14(2022)

Standard Guide for General Planning of Waste Sampling

D1586-11

Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils

D1587-08

Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for Geotechnical Purposes

D3550-01

Standard Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split Barrel, Drive Sampling of Soils

D4136-82(1998)

Standard Practice for Sampling Phytoplankton with Water-Sampling Bottles

D1452-09

Standard Practice for Soil Exploration and Sampling by Auger Borings

D4696-18

Standard Guide for Pore-Liquid Sampling from the Vadose Zone

D4700-15

Standard Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone (Withdrawn 2024)

D4823-95(2019)

Standard Guide for Core Sampling Submerged, Unconsolidated Sediments

D5013-26

Standard Practices for Sampling Wastes from Pipes and Other Point Discharges

D5079-25

Standard Practices for Preserving and Transporting Rock Core Samples

D5088-20

Standard Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment Used at Waste Sites

D5283-18(2025)

Standard Practice for Generation of Environmental Data Related to Waste Management Activities: Quality Assurance and Quality Control Planning and Implementation

D5451-21

Standard Practice for Sampling Using a Trier Sampler

D5495-21

Standard Practice for Sampling with a Composite Liquid Waste Sampler (COLIWASA)

D5633-21

Standard Practice for Sampling with a Scoop

D5679-16(2024)

Standard Practice for Sampling Consolidated Solids in Drums or Similar Containers

D5743-21

Standard Practice for Sampling Single or Multilayered Liquids, with or Without Solids, in Drums or Similar Containers

D5778-20

Standard Test Method for Electronic Friction Cone and Piezocone Penetration Testing of Soils

D5783-18(2025)

Standard Guide for Use of Direct Rotary Drilling with Water-Based Drilling Fluid for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D5784-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Hollow-Stem Augers for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D5875-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Cable-Tool Drilling and Sampling Methods for Geoenvironmental Exploration and Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D5876-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Direct Rotary Wireline Casing Advancement Drilling Methods for Geoenvironmental Exploration and Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D6001-05

Standard Guide for Direct-Push Groundwater Sampling for Environmental Site Characterization

D6044-21

Standard Guide for Representative Sampling for Management of Waste and Contaminated Media

D6051-15(2023)

Standard Guide for Composite Sampling and Field Subsampling for Environmental Waste Management Activities

D6063-11(2018)

Standard Guide for Sampling of Drums and Similar Containers by Field Personnel

D6169-98

Standard Guide for Selection of Soil and Rock Sampling Devices Used With Drill Rigs for Environmental Investigations

D6282-98

Standard Guide for Direct Push Soil Sampling for Environmental Site Characterizations

D6418-09

Standard Practice for Using the Disposable En Core Sampler for Sampling and Storing Soil for Volatile Organic Analysis (Withdrawn 2018)

D6538-12(2024)

Standard Guide for Sampling Wastewater with Automatic Samplers

D4348-84(2002)

Standard Practice for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrates with Home (Scoop) Grab Sampler (Withdrawn 2003)

D6634-01

Standard Guide for the Selection of Purging and Sampling Devices for Ground-Water Monitoring Wells

D6759-24

Standard Practice for Sampling Liquids Using Grab and Discrete Depth Samplers

D6771-21

Standard Practice for Low-Flow Purging and Sampling Used for Groundwater Monitoring

E1391-03(2023)

Standard Guide for Collection, Storage, Characterization, and Manipulation of Sediments for Toxicological Testing and for Selection of Samplers Used to Collect Benthic Invertebrates

D6907-22

Standard Practice for Sampling Soils and Contaminated Media with Hand-Operated Bucket Augers

E300-03(2022)

Standard Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals