Oil and grease is composed primarily of fatty matter from animal and vegetable sources and from hydrocarbons of petroleum origin. The portion of oil and grease from each of these two major sources can be determined with Method 5520F. A knowledge of the relative composition of a sample minimizes the difficulty in determining the major source of the material and simplifies the correction of oil and grease problems in wastewater treatment plant operation and stream pollution abatement. Dissolved or emulsified oil and grease is extracted from water by intimate contact with an extracting solvent. Some extractables, especially unsaturated fats and fatty acids, oxidize readily; hence, special precautions regarding temperature and solvent vapor displacement are included to minimize this effect. Organic solvents shaken with some samples may form an emulsion that is very difficult to break. This method includes a means for handling such emulsions. Silica gel has the ability to adsorb polar materials; hence, if a solution of hydrocarbons and fatty materials in a nonpolar solvent is mixed with silica gel, the fatty acids are removed selectively from solution. The materials not eliminated by silica gel adsorption are designated hydrocarbons by this test.
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| Hold Times, Preservatives, Preps, Collection, Analytical & Documentation | |
|---|---|
| Holding Time: | Analyze as soon as possible. |
| Preservatives: | If analysis is to be delayed for more than 2 hours, acidify to pH 2 or lower with either 1:1 HCl or 1:1 sulfuric acid and refrigerate. |
| Required Preps: | Wide mouth glass bottle |
| Collection Method: | Grab Sampling |
| Analytical Methodology: | Gravimetric |
| Documentation: | |
| Analyte | Formula | CAS Number | Detection Limit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil & Grease | ||||
* The analytes and detection limits listed for each method represent the typical detection limits and analytes reported for that particular method. Keep in mind that analyte lists may vary from laboratory to laboratory. Detection limits may also vary from lab to lab and are dependent upon the sample size, matrix, and any interferences that may be present in the sample.