Designation: G 91 – 97

Standard Practice for

Monitoring Atmospheric SO2 Using the Sulfation Plate
Technique1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation G 91; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope tion of many weather and atmospheric variables. The effect of

1.1 This practice provides a weighted average effective SO2 specific corrodants, such as sulfur dioxide, can accelerate the
level for a 30-day interval through the use of the sulfation plate atmospheric corrosion of metals significantly. The sulfation
method, a technique for estimating the effective SO2 content of plate method provides a simple technique to independently
the atmosphere, and especially with regard to the atmospheric monitor the level of SO2 in the atmosphere to yield a weighted
corrosion of stationary structures or panels. This practice is average result.
aimed at determining SO2 levels rather than sulfuric acid 4.2 Sulfation plate results may be used to characterize
aerosol or acid precipitation. atmospheric corrosion test sites regarding the effective average
1.2 The results of this practice correlate approximately with level of SO2 in the atmosphere at these locations.
volumetric SO2 concentrations, although the presence of dew 4.3 Sulfation plate testing is useful in determining micro-
or condensed moisture tends to enhance the capture of SO2 into climate, seasonal, and long term variations in the effective
the plate. average level of SO2.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 4.4 The results of sulfation plate tests may be used in
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the correlations of atmospheric corrosion rates with atmospheric
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- data to determine the sensitivity of the corrosion rate to SO2
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- level.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 4.5 The sulfation plate method may also be used with other
methods to characterize the atmosphere at sites where build-
2. Referenced Documents ings or other construction is planned in order to determine the
2.1 ASTM Standards: extent of protective measures required for metallic materials.
D 516 Test Methods for Sulfate Ion in Water2
5. Interferences
D 2010/D2010 M Test Method for Evaluation of Total
Sulfation Activity in the Atmosphere by the Lead Dioxide 5.1 The lead peroxide reagent used in this practice may
Technique3 convert other compounds such as mercaptans, hydrogen sul-
G 16 Guide for Applying Statistics to Analysis of Corrosion fide, and carbonyl sulfide into sulfate.
Data4 NOTE 1—Hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans, at concentrations which
affect the corrosion of structural metals significantly, are relatively rare in
3. Summary of Practice most atmospheric environments, but their effects regarding the corrosion
3.1 Sulfation plates consisting of a lead peroxide reagent in of metals are not equivalent to sulfur dioxide. Therefore, if H2S, COS, or
an inverted dish are exposed for 30-day intervals. The plates mercaptans are present in the atmosphere, the lead peroxide method must
not be used to assess atmospheric corrosivity. It should also be noted that
are recovered and sulfate analyses performed on the contents to no actual measurements have been made which would establish the
determine the extent of sulfur capture. The results are reported correlation between atmospheric H2S, COS, or mercaptan level and
in terms of milligrams of SO2 per square metre per day. sulfation as measured by this practice.

4. Significance and Use 5.2 The inverted exposure position of the sulfation plate is
intended to minimize capture of sulfuric acid aerosols and
4.1 Atmospheric corrosion of metallic materials is a func-
sulfur bearing species from precipitation.
6. Sulfation Plate Preparation and Exposure
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee G-1 on Corrosion
of Metals and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee G01.04 on Atmospheric 6.1 Sulfation plates can be prepared according to the
Corrosion. method of Huey.5 The plate preparation method is given in
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1997. Published December 1997. Originally
published as G 91 – 86. Last previous edition G 91 – 92.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
3 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03. Huey, N. A., “The Lead Dioxide Estimation of Sulfur Dioxide Pollution,”
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.02. Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association, Vol 18, No. 9, 1968, pp. 610–611.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 G 91
Appendix X1. Laboratory prepared plates should be exposed g/L Na2CO3 (ACS reagent grade) is sufficient to solubilize the sulfate in
within 120 days of preparation. this test method in a 3-hour period. Thereafter, conventional sulfate
6.2 In general, the level of atmospheric sulfur dioxide varies analysis can be employed, for example, by barium precipitation and either
gravimetric or turbidimetric analysis (see Test Methods D 516).
seasonally during the year so that a minimal exposure program
requires four 30-day exposures each year at roughly equal 7. Calculation
intervals. In order to establish the atmospheric SO2 level at an
7.1 The sulfate analysis provides the quantity of sulfate on
atmospheric corrosion test site which has not been monitored
each disc analyzed. This should be converted to an SO2 capture
previously, a program in which six 30-day exposures per year rate, R, by the following equation.
for a period of 3 years is recommended. More extensive testing
may be desirable if large variability is encountered in the R 5 ~m 2 mo! 3 MWSO2/MWSO4 3 A 3 T (1)
results. Thereafter, the location should be monitored with at where:
least four tests in a 1-year period every 3 years. If the m 5 mass of sulfate found in the plate, mg,
subsequent tests are not consistent with the initial testing, then m0 5 mass of sulfate found in a blank (unexposed)
another 3-year program of six tests per year is required. Also, plate, mg,
if a major change in the general area occurs in terms of MWSO2 5 64,
industrial or urban development, then six tests per year for 3 MWSO4 5 96,
years should again be carried out. A 5 area of the plate, m2, and
6.3 In monitoring exposure sites, a minimum of four plates T 5 exposure time of the plate, days.
shall be used for each exposure period. R 5 SO2 capture rate, mg SO2/m 2 day (2)
6.3.1 Sites which have a grade or elevation variation should
be monitored with at least two plates at the highest elevation 7.2 The SO2 capture rate may be converted to equivalent
and two plates at the lowest elevation. SO3 or SO4 values if desired, but for comparison purposes,
6.3.2 Plates should be exposed, if possible, at both the SO2 rates shall be used.
highest and lowest level above the ground at which corrosion 7.3 The average value and standard deviation of the values
test specimens are exposed. should be calculated according to Guide G 16.
6.3.3 Sites larger than 10 000 m2 shall have at least eight
8. Report
plates exposed for each period. In rectangular sites on level
ground, it is desirable to expose two plates at each corner. 8.1 The report shall include the following information:
8.1.1 A description of the exposure site and the locations
NOTE 2—Some investigators have reported significantly higher sulfa- where the plates were exposed, including the bracket identity
tion results at locations closest to the ground.
number or designation and the location on the exposure stand,
6.4 Brackets shall be used to hold the plates securely in an 8.1.2 The exposure initiation and termination dates,
inverted position so that the lead peroxide mixture faces 8.1.3 The identification numbers and sources of the sulfa-
downward. The plate shall be horizontal and shall be placed so tion plates,
that it is not protected from normal winds and air currents. The 8.1.4 The calculated SO2 capture rates for each plate and the
bracket design should include a retaining clip or other provi- average and standard deviations for each site and exposure
sion to hold the plate in the event of strong winds. The retainer interval,
clip may be made from stainless steel, spring bronze, hard 8.1.5 The sulfate analysis method, and
aluminum alloy (3003H19), or other alloys with sufficient 8.1.6 Any deviations from this practice.
strength and atmospheric corrosion resistance. A typical 8.2 Comparison should be made to previously determined
bracket design is shown in Fig. 1. values in ongoing monitoring programs.
6.5 A 30 6 2-day exposure period is recommended. At the
conclusion of this period, the plates should be removed from 9. Precision and Bias
the bracket and covered tightly to prevent additional sulfation. 9.1 Repeatability for a group of plates prepared in one batch
Analysis of the plates should be completed within 60 days of and exposed for 30 days under essentially identical conditions,
the completion of the exposure. The plate identification, the standard deviation6 has been found to be related to the
exposure location, and exposure initiation date should be average sulfation level by the equation given below:
recorded when the plate exposure is initiated. At the termina-
s 5 0.0790 m̄ (3)
tion of exposure, the completion date should be added to the
exposure records. where:
NOTE 3—The 30 day exposure is not very discriminating in areas of s 5 standard deviation of the plate SO2 capture in mg
low SO2 concentrations. Experience has shown that 60 to 90 days SO2/m2day,
exposure may be necessary to develop a measurable SO2 capture on the m 5 average net SO2 capture in mg SO2/m2 day.
plate. This relationship was determined in 10 runs with 6 or more
6.6 The sulfation plates shall be analyzed for sulfate content plates per run. The standard error of estimate of the regression
using any established quantitative analysis technique.
NOTE 4—In conducting the sulfate analysis, it is necessary to remove 6
Levadie, B., “Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide with the
the contents of the sulfation plate and solubilize the sulfate, for example, Lead Dioxide Plate (Huey Plate),” Journal of Testing and Evaluation, Vol 7, No. 2,
using a solution of sodium carbonate. It has been found that 20 mL of 50 March 1979, pp. 61–67.

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 G 91

FIG. 1 Sulfation Plate Holder

equation was 0.69 based on 8 degrees of freedom. This error is measure of SO2 deposition within the limitation discussed in
therefore the lower limit for s, that is, the value of s becomes this section. Consequently, this procedure for measuring atmo-
a constant value of 0.69 mg SO2/m2 day when m̄ is less than spheric SO2 dry depositions is defined only in terms of this
8.8 mg SO2/m2 day. practice.
9.2 Reproducibility—No statement can be made at this time 9.4 Other methods of measuring SO2 dry deposition include
for results from plates produced, or analyzed, or both, by a wet candle technique (Test Method D 2010/D 2010M).
different laboratories exposed under identical conditions.
9.3 Bias—Although the dry deposition of SO2 from the
10. Keywords
atmosphere is related to the gaseous SO2 concentration in the
ambient air, (see Fig. 2), the deposition rate is also controlled 10.1 atmospheric corrosion; exposures; measurement; plate
by other factors such as wind velocity and temperature. The preparation; sulfate analysis; sulfation plates; sulfur dioxide
lead peroxide sulfation plate is considered to be a reliable

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 G 91

NOTE 1—A regression analysis on these results yielded the following least squares fit of the data.
R 5 (2.216 6 0.016)V

where:
R 5 the SO2 capture rate in mg SO2/m2 day, and
V 5 the average hourly volumetric SO2 concentration in parts per billion.
The correlation coefficient for this data set was 0.917 and the standard error of estimate was 7.5 with 13 df.
FIG. 2 Correlation Between Sulfation Plate Results and Mean Volumetric SO2 Concentration

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. SULFATION PLATE PREPARATION

The following practice may be used to prepare sulfation X1.3 Add 3.5 g of gum tragacanth and 900 mL distilled or
plates: deionized water to a high speed blender container. Set at low
speed and blend for two hours.
X1.1 Bond filter paper circles to the bottom of polystyrene
culture (petri) dishes. Either a 50-mm to 60-mm dish size is X1.4 Pour the contents of the blender into a 1 L beaker and
convenient. The bonding process is carried out by placing a return 350 mL of the solution to the blender container. Pulp 3.5
filter paper circle, rough side up (S & S grade 30 is acceptable) g of filter paper in the 350 mL of gum solution with the blender
in the bottom of the dish. Paper is bonded to the plate by set at a moderate speed until the mixture appears smooth and
adding reagent grade acetone from a wash bottle until the filter uniform.
just becomes saturated. Avoid splashing acetone on the walls or
outside the dish. Press the paper firmly with a glass rod so that X1.5 Return 400 mL of the gum solution previously
all parts of the filter are pressed into the dish. Allow acetone to removed from the blender and blend at moderate speed for 1
evaporate. One 900-mL batch of lead peroxide will cover about min.
eighty 50-mm plates or fifty-five 60-mm plates. The bonding
may be carried out well in advance of the plate preparation X1.6 Turn the blender to high speed and add 112 g of lead
procedure. peroxide. Blend for 2 min and turn the blender back to low
speed.
X1.2 Place a batch of bonded plates, eighty 50-mm or
fifty-five 60-mm plates, in a rack and rinse with distilled or X1.7 Carefully pipet 10 mL of the mixture into each 50-mm
deionized water. Then fill plates with water again and allow to plate or 15 mL into each 60-mm plate. Make sure mixture
stand for one hour. Pour water out and refill one-quarter to spreads uniformly through the water layer in the plate to the
one-half with distilled or deionized water. edge of each plate.

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 G 91
X1.8 Place the rack of plates in an oven set at 40 to 50°C X1.10 Plates shall be numbered and placed on exposure
for 20 h. within 120 days of preparation. Commercially obtained plates
may be retained for up to one year before exposure. Retain at
X1.9 Remove plate from oven and allow to cool. Seal least one plate from each batch as a blank.
plates with tight fitting covers to preserve until the exposure
begins.

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