Historical
ASTM D6877-13e1
Standard Test Method for Monitoring Diesel Particulate Exhaust in the Workplace
1.1 This test method covers determination of organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) in the particulate fraction of diesel engine exhaust, hereafter referred to as diesel particulate matter (DPM). Samples of workplace atmospheres are collected on quartz-fiber filters. The method also is suitable for other types of carbonaceous aerosols and has been widely applied to environmental monitoring. It is not appropriate for sampling volatile or semi-volatile components. These components require sorbents for efficient collection.
1.2 The method is based on a thermal-optical technique (1, 2)2. Speciation of OC and EC is achieved through temperature and atmosphere control, and an optical feature that corrects for sample charring (carbonization).
1.3 A portion of a 37-mm, quartz-fiber filter sample is analyzed. Results for the portion are used to calculate the total mass of OC and EC on the filter. The portion must be representative of the entire filter deposit. If the deposit is uneven, two or more representative portions should be analyzed for an average. Alternatively, the entire filter can be analyzed, in multiple portions, to determine the total mass. Open-faced cassettes give even deposits but may not be practical. At 2 L/min, closed-face cassettes generally give results equivalent to open-face cassettes if other dusts are absent. Higher flow rates may be employed, but closed-faced cassettes operated at higher flow rates (for example, 5 L/min) sometimes have uneven deposits due to particle impaction at the center of the filter. Other samplers may be required, depending on the sampling environment (2-5).
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ASTM International [astm]
