ASTM D5761-96(2006)

This practice is intended as a solution to the difficulty of obtaining reproducible test results from heterogeneous samples.

This practice works best with multilayered liquids, but can also be applied to samples with solid particles that are sufficiently small in size to be suspended in an emulsion.

The emulsified/suspended sample can be used for all bulk property testing such as microwave digestion/inductively coupled argon plasma (ICAP), ion chromatography, heat of combustion, ash content, water, nonvolatile residue, and pH. It may be prudent to retain a portion of the sample in its original, multiphase form for some types of analyses.

FIG. 1 Sample Splitter Funnel

1.1 This practice covers the generation of a single-phase suspension or emulsion from multiphase samples which are primarily liquid in order to facilitate sample preparation, transfer, and analysis.

1.2 This practice is designed to keep a multiphase fluid sample in an emulsified/suspended state long enough to take a single, composite sample that is representative of the sample as a whole. The sample may reform multiple layers after standing.

1.3 The emulsion/suspension generated by following this practice can be used only for analytical procedures designed for the total sample and procedures not significantly affected by the emulsifier or the presence of an emulsion/suspension.

1.4 This practice assumes that a representative sample of not more than one litre has been obtained.

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

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.