Appendix C. General guidelines for selecting equipment on the basis of construction material and target analyte(s) | |||
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[X , generally appropriate for use shown; Si, silica; Cr, chromium; Ni, nickel; Fe, iron; Mn, manganese; Mo, molybdenum; 3H/3He, tritium/helium-3; CFC, chlorofluorocarbon; B, boron] | |||
Construction material for sampling equipment | Target analyte(s) | ||
Material | Description | Inorganic | Organic |
Plastics1 | |||
Fluorocarbon polymers2 (several varieties available for differing applications) | Chemically inert for most analytes | X (potential source of fluoride) |
X (sorption of some organics) |
Polypropylene | Relatively inert for inorganic analytes | X | Do not use |
Polyethylene (linear) | Relatively inert for inorganic analytes | X | Do not use |
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | Relatively inert for inorganic analytes | X | Do not use |
Silicone | Very porous. Relatively inert for most inorganic analytes | X (potential source of Si) |
Do not use |
Metals | |||
Stainless-steel 316 (SS-316) |
SS-316--metal having the greatest corrosion
resistance. Comes in various grades.
Used for submersible pump casing |
X (potential source of Cr, Ni, Fe, and possibly Mn and Mo) Do not use for surface water unless encased in plastic |
X Do not use if corroded3 |
Stainless-steel 304 | Similar to SS-316 but less corrosion resistant | Do not use | X Do not use if corroded3 |
Other metals--brass, iron, copper, aluminum, galvanized and carbon steels | Refrigeration-grade copper or aluminum tubing are used routinely for collection of 3H/3He and CFC samples | Do not use (except as noted for isotopes) | X Routinely used for CFCs. Do not use if corroded3 |
Glass | |||
Glass, borosilicate (laboratory grade) | Relatively inert. Potential sorption of analytes | X Potential source of B and Si |
X |
Contact Dee Lurry for more information