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: D2974 − 20´1

Standard Test Methods for

Determining the Water (Moisture) Content, Ash Content, and
Organic Material of Peat and Other Organic Soils1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2974; 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.

ε1 NOTE—Subsection 4.1 was editorially corrected in March 2020.

1. Scope* 1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded

as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in
1.1 These test methods cover the measurement of water
this standard.
(moisture) content, ash content, and organic material in peats
and other organic soils, such as organic clays, silts, and mucks. 1.5 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
Test Method D2216 provides for determining the water (mois- guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
ture) content in mineral soils and rock. Practice D6026.
1.5.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/
1.2 This standard has two different ways to determine the recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the
water content of the specimen prior to determining the ash industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the
content based on the application for which the peat or organic significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-

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soil is being used. For general classification of peat/organic dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
soils not being used for fuel, the water content is determined obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
using oven drying. For peat/organic soils being used as a fuel,
(https://standards.iteh.ai)
ations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to
the water content is determined first by air drying followed by increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be
oven drying. commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope
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1.3 There are two Methods, A and B, for determining the
ash content and organic material of peat or organic soils. For
of this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis
methods for engineering design.
general classification purposes, Method A is used to determine 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
the water content, ash content, and organic material. When the
ASTM D2974-20e1 concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
safety
peat is being used as a fuel, Method B is used to determine the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
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water content, ash content and organic material. priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
1.3.1 Method A—The ash content and organic material of mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
peat or organic soils is determined by igniting the oven-dried 1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
specimen as obtained from the water content determination in dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
a furnace at 440 6 40°C. This method is used for general ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
purposes and should not be used when the peat or organic soils Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
are being used or evaluated for use as a fuel. mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.3.2 Method B—The ash content and organic material of Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
peat or organic soils is determined by igniting the air-dried then
oven-dried specimen obtained from the water content determi- 2. Referenced Documents
nation in a furnace at 750 6 38°C. This method is used when 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
the peat or organic soil is being used as or evaluated for use as D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
a fuel. Fluids
D2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water
(Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil
and Rock and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Media for
2
Plant Growth. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2020. Published March 2020. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1971. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as D2974 – 14. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D2974-20E01. the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

1
 D2974 − 20´1
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies 5.2 The ash content and percent organic material are impor-
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as tant in the following: (1) classifying peat or other organic soil,
Used in Engineering Design and Construction (2) geotechnical and general classification purposes, and (3)
D4427 Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing when peats are being evaluated as a fuel. The ash content is one
D4753 Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Bal- of several parameters used to classify peat as detailed in
ances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock, and Classification D4427.
Construction Materials Testing NOTE 1—The quality of the result produced by this standard is
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the
suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the
Data criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent
and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are
3. Terminology cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure
reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740
3.1 Definitions: provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
3.1.1 For definitions of common technical terms used in this
standard, refer to Terminology D653. 6. Apparatus
6.1 Drying Oven—Vented, thermostatically controlled oven
4. Summary of Test Methods capable of maintaining a uniform temperature of 110 6 5°C
4.1 Method A—A peat or organic soil sample is reduced by throughout the drying chamber. The oven shall not have any
quartering to obtain a 50.00 610 g test specimen. A water “hot spots” that could ignite the specimen. The uniformity of
content determination is made by drying the test specimen in a the oven’s temperature shall be verified annually and the
110°C 6 5°C oven. The loss of mass due to drying is temperature should be checked or monitored as detailed in Test
considered to be water. After oven drying, the test specimen is Method D2216 (Note 2).
placed in a furnace that is then gradually brought up to a NOTE 2—The temperature of the drying oven is very important for
temperature of 440 6 40°C. The specimen remains in the organic soils. Hot spots in the oven could ignite the specimen. Care should
furnace until it is completely ashed. Then it is removed and be taken when monitoring the oven’s temperature and placement of the

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placed in a desiccator to cool to room temperature before
determining its mass. The substance remaining after ignition is
specimens within the oven to avoid possible ignition.
6.2 Thermometric Device—A thermometric device(s) ca-

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the ash. The water content, ash content and amount of organic
pable of measuring the temperature of the drying oven and the
material is then calculated. This method is used for general
furnace readable to 1°C or better and having an accuracy of at
purposes/classification of peats and organic soils and must not
least 61°C.

as a fuel.
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be used for peat or organic soil being used or evaluated for use
6.3 Furnace—An ignition oven or furnace capable of pro-
ducing constant temperatures of 440 6 40°C and 750 6 38°C.
4.2 Method B—A peat or organic soil sample is reduced by 6.4 Balance or Scale, Balances/Scales shall conform to the
ASTM
quartering to obtain a 100.0 to 300.00 g test specimen. D2974-20e1
A water requirements of Guide D4753. The balance/scale must have a
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content determination is made by first air drying the test minimum capacity of 500 g and have a readability without
specimen, then taking 50.00 6 10 g of air-dried peat/organic estimation of of 0.01 g.
soil and then oven drying it in a 110°C 6 5°C oven. After oven
drying, the test specimen is placed in a furnace that is then 6.5 Non-Absorbent Surface—A rubber sheet, oil cloth, or
gradually brought up to a temperature of 750°C 6 38°C. The other similar non-absorbent material/surface.
specimen remains in the furnace until it is completely ashed. 6.6 Container—A porcelain or high-silica crucible,
Then it is removed and placed in a desiccator to cool to room container, or dish having a capacity of 100 mL or more is
temperature before determining its mass. The substance re- acceptable provided its mass does not change under the
maining after ignition is the ash. The water content, ash content ignition condition. The container must have a cover. A lid is
and amount of organic material is then calculated. This method recommended, however heavy duty aluminum foil is accept-
is used when the peat or organic soil is to be used as fuel. able for use as a cover.
6.7 Large Pan—A 330 by 230 mm or larger flat pan or tray.
5. Significance and Use
6.8 Desiccator—A desiccant containing device of suitable
5.1 This standard is used in various industries including, but size used to prevent moisture gain during cooling of the
not limited to, agriculture, forestry, energy, horticulture, and oven-dried specimen.
geotechnical. Over the years, the use of peat as a fuel has been
on the decline for numerous reasons, however it is still being 6.9 Miscellaneous Items—Items such as, water-proof
used as a fuel in some parts of the world. Peat typically has containers, spoons, spatulas are useful.
high a water content, thus when being used as a fuel, the peat
must first be air dried in order to reduce the water content. 7. Sampling and Test Specimens
When the peat it too wet, it doesn’t burn well and much heat is 7.1 These test methods do not address, in any detail,
wasted in unnecessary conversion of water to steam and more procurement of the sample. It is assumed the sample is
smoke/soot is created, which can coat a chimney and pose a obtained using appropriate methods and is representative of the
danger to the end user. peat or organic soil under evaluation.