ASTM D1209-05(2019)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D1209 − 05 (Reapproved 2019)
Standard Test Method for
Color of Clear Liquids (Platinum-Cobalt Scale)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1209; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method describes a procedure for the visual
D156 Test Method for Saybolt Color of Petroleum Products
measurement of the color of essentially light colored liquids
(Saybolt Chromometer Method)
(Note 1). It is applicable only to materials in which the
D365 Guide for Soluble Nitrocellulose Base Solutions
color-producing bodies present have light absorption charac-
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
teristicsnearlyidenticalwiththoseoftheplatinum-cobaltcolor
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
standards used.
Determine Conformance with Specifications
NOTE 1—A procedure for estimating color of darker liquids, described
E202 Test Methods for Analysis of Ethylene Glycols and
for soluble nitrocellulose base solutions, is given in Guide D365.
Propylene Glycols
E346 Test Methods for Analysis of Methanol (Withdrawn
1.2 For purposes of determining conformance of an ob-
2017)
served or a calculated value using this test method to relevant
specifications, test result(s) shall be rounded off “to the nearest
3. Significance and Use
unit” in the last right-hand digit used in expressing the
3.1 The property of color of a solvent varies in importance
specification limit, in accordance with the rounding-off method
with the application for which it is intended, the amount of
of Practice E29.
color that can be tolerated being dependent on the color
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
characteristics of the material in which it is used. The paint,
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
varnish, and lacquer solvents, or diluents commercially avail-
standard.
able on today’s market normally have little or no color. The
presence or absence of color in such material is an indication
1.4 For specific hazard information, see the Material Safety
of the degree of refinement to which the solvent has been
Data Sheet.
subjected or of the cleanliness of the shipping or storage
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
container in which it is handled, or both.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2 For a number of years the term “water-white” was
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
considered sufficient as a measurement of solvent color.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
Several expressions for defining “water-white” gradually ap-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
pearedanditbecameevidentthatamoreprecisecolorstandard
For specific hazard statements see Section 6.
was needed. This was accomplished in 1952 with the adoption
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
of Test Method D1209 using the platinum-cobalt scale. This
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
test method is similar to the description given in Standard
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water and is
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
referredtobymanyas“APHAColor.”Thepreparationofthese
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
platinum-cobalt color standards was originally described byA.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
and Related Coatings, Materials, andApplications and is the direct responsibility of the ASTM website.
Subcommittee D01.35 on Solvents, Plasticizers, and Chemical Intermediates. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
Current edition approved April 1, 2019. Published April 2019. Originally www.astm.org.
approved in 1952. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as D1209 – 05 (2011). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water, M. Franson,
DOI: 10.1520/D1209-05R19. Ed., American Public Health Assoc., 14th ed., 1975, p. 65.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D1209 − 05 (2019)
TABLE 1 Absorbance Tolerance Limits For No. 500 Platinum-
of the several color systems being compared and the subjective
Cobalt Stock Solution
manner in which the measurements are made, exact equivalen-
Wavelength, nm Absorbance
cies are difficult to obtain.
430 0.110 to 0.120
455 0.130 to 0.145
4. Apparatus
480 0.105 to 0.120
4.1 Spectrophotometer, equipped for liquid samples and for
510 0.055 to 0.065
measurements in the visible region.
NOTE 2—The spectrophotometer used must be clean and in first-class
TABLE 2 Platinum-Cobalt Color Standards
operating condition. The instrument should be calibrated in accordance
Color Standard Stock Solution, Color Standard Stock Solution,
with the instructions given in the Standards for Checking the Calibration
Number mL Number mL
of Spectrophotometers (200 to 1000 nm).
5 1 70 14
4.2 Spectrophotometer Cells,matchedhavinga10-mmlight
10 2 100 20
path.
15 3 150 30
20 4 200 40
4.3 Color Comparison Tubes—Matched 100-mL, tall-form
25 5 250 50
30 6 300 60 Nessler tubes, provided with ground-on, optically clear, glass
35 7 350 70
caps.Tubesshouldbeselectedsothattheheightofthe100-mL
40 8 400 80
graduation mark is 275 to 295 mm above the bottom of the
50 10 450 90
A
60 12 500 100 tube.
A
This is platinum-cobalt color No. 10 in Guide D365.
4.4 Color Comparator—A color comparator constructed to
permit visual comparison of light transmitted through tall-
form, 100-mL Nessler tubes in the direction of their longitu-
TABLE 3 Platinum-Cobalt Color Standards for Very Light Colors
dinal axes.The comparator should be constructed so that white
Color Standard Stock Solution, Color Standard Stock Solution,
light is passed through or reflected off a white glass plate and
Number mL Number mL
directed with equal intensity through the tubes, and should be
1 0.20 9 1.80
shielded so that no light enters the tubes from the side.
2 0.40 10 2.00
3 0.60 11 2.20
5. Reagents
4 0.80 12 2.40
5 1.00 13 2.60
5.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent-grade chemicals shall be
6 1.20 14 2.80
7 1.40 15 3.00
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
8 1.60
all reagents shall conform to the specifications of the Commit-
tee onAnalytical Reagents of theAmerican Chemical Society,
where such specifications are available. Other grades may be
Hazen in the American Chemical Journal in which he
used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of
assigned the number 5 (parts per ten thousand) to his platinum-
sufficiently high purity to permit its use without lessening the
cobalt stock solution. Subsequently, in their first edition (1905)
accuracy of the determination.
of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water, the
5.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, references
American Public Health Association, using exactly the same
towatershallbeunderstoodtomeanreagentwaterconforming
concentration of reagents, assigned the color designation 500
to Type IV of Specification D1193.
(parts per million) which is the same ratio. The parts per
million nomenclature is not used since color is not referred
5.3 Cobalt Chloride (CoCl ·6H O).
2 2
directly to a weight relationship. It is therefore recommended
5.4 Hydrochloric Acid (sp gr 1.19)—Concentrated hydro-
thattheincorrectterm“HazenColor”shouldnotbeused.Also,
chloric acid (HCl).
because it refers primarily to water, the term “APHAColor” is
5.5 Potassium Chloroplatinate (K PtCl ).
undesirable. The recommended nomenclature for referring to 2 6
the color of organic liquids is “Platinum-Cobalt Color, Test
6. Platinum-Cobalt Reference St
...