ISSN: 1945-7545
CODEN: GTJODJ
Page Count: 5

The Rapid Carbonate Analyzer

Demars, KR
Associate professormember of ASTM, University of Connecticut, Stors, CT

Chaney, RC
Associate professormember of ASTM, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA

Richter, JA
Research civil engineer, U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH

Abstract

A gasometric method is proposed for measuring soil carbonate content. The device consists of an enclosed acrylic cylinder in which soil carbonate reacts with acid to produce carbon dioxide gas. For a constant volume reactor, the carbon dioxide gas pressure is directly related to the soil carbonate content at completion of the reaction. The effect of several variables, including particle size, acid concentration, and carbonate mineralogy, on the reaction time is considered. This method has the advantages of accuracy to within ±5%, high analytical speed, low cost, and minimal operator skill. It is well suited for both laboratory and field use.

Keywords:
carbonates, calcite, dolomites, rapid analysis, gasometric method

Paper ID: GTJ10821J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ10821J
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