ASTM D4193-02 - 10.7.2002
 
Significance and Use

Many natural waters contain thiocyanate from organic decomposition products and waste water discharges. Some industrial wastes, such as those from the steel industry, petroleum refining, and coal gasification, may contain significant concentrations of thiocyanate. Thiocyanate per se is not recognized as a toxic chemical compound. However, when chlorinated, thiocyanate is converted to the highly toxic and volatile cyanogen chloride.

5.1.1 For information on the impact of cyanogen compounds, see Appendix X1 of Test Method D 2036.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the determination of dissolved thiocyanate in water, waste water, and saline water in the range from 0.1 to 2.0 mg/L. For higher concentrations, use an aliquot from the diluted sample.

1.2 This test method has been used successfully with reagent grade, natural, and treated sanitary effluent waters. It is the user's responsibility to assure the validity of the test method on any untested matrices.

1.3 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. For specific hazards, see Section 9.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D5847-22

Standard Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications for Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis

E275-08(2022)

Standard Practice for Describing and Measuring Performance of Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrophotometers

E60-11(2022)e1

Standard Practice for Analysis of Metals, Ores, and Related Materials by Spectrophotometry (Includes all amendments and changes 6/29/2022).

D7365-09a(2022)

Standard Practice for Sampling, Preservation and Mitigating Interferences in Water Samples for Analysis of Cyanide (Includes all amendments and changes 5/13/2022).

D7237-18(2026)

Standard Test Method for Free Cyanide and Aquatic Free Cyanide with Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) Utilizing Gas Diffusion Separation and Amperometric Detection

D5789-95

Standard Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications for Standard Test Methods for Organic Constituents (Withdrawn 2002)

D5788-95(2024)

Standard Guide for Spiking Organics into Aqueous Samples

D1192-98

Standard Guide for Equipment for Sampling Water and Steam in Closed Conduits (Withdrawn 2003)

D4841-88(2018)

Standard Practice for Estimation of Holding Time for Water Samples Containing Organic and Inorganic Constituents

D1129-24

Standard Terminology Relating to Water

D1193-24

Standard Specification for Reagent Water

D2036-09(2022)

Standard Test Methods for Cyanides in Water

D2777-21

Standard Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water

D3370-25

Standard Practices for Sampling Water from Flowing Process Streams

D3856-11

Standard Guide for Management Systems in Laboratories Engaged in Analysis of Water

D4210-89(1996)e1

Standard Practice for Intralaboratory Quality Control Procedures and a Discussion on Reporting Low-Level Data (Withdrawn 2002)