Standardization News

A new ASTM standard will be used to help ensure the safety of drinking water. The new standard (soon to be published as D8001, Test Method for Determination of Total Nitrogen, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen by Calculation, and Total Phosphorus in Water and Waste Water by Ion Chromatography) will allow for the simultaneous analysis of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in water. The standard was developed by a subcommittee of ASTM International Committee D19 on Water.

ASTM member Richard Jack, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., notes that nitrogen and phosphorus are essential nutrients. However, an excess amount of these elements can cause algal blooms and lead to the generation of toxic microcystins.

“Freshwater sources for drinking water often become contaminated, which results in cities closing down their drinking water supply,” says Jack. “This method will help assess impacts from water treatment and agricultural runoffs that result in excess nutrients in waterways.”

According to Jack, the new method can be easily incorporated into existing ion chromatography methods by adding an inexpensive digestion step. People investigating nutrient runoff and water quality, as well as drinking and wastewater treatment operators will benefit from using the new standard.

All interested parties are invited to participate in a projected round robin study to validate the new standard.

To purchase standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation, or contact ASTM Customer Relations (tel +1.877.909.ASTM; sales@astm.org). ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN.

Technical Contact: Richard Jack, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., tel +1.408.481.4227 
ASTM Staff Contact: Brian Milewski, tel +1.610.832.9619