ASTM D5854 practice for mixing and handling of petroleum and petroleum products
ASTM D5854 standard practice for mixing and handling of liquid samples of petroleum and petroleum products
6. Sample Containers
6.1 No single container type will meet requirements of all petroleum sampling operations. The following are general design and construction considerations for sample containers.

6.2 Container Configuration:
6.2.1 Containers should drain continuously toward the outlet to ensure complete liquid withdrawal.

6.2.2 Cylindrical containers are better suited for samples that are to be tested for free water or sediment and water.

6.2.3 Containers should not have internal pockets or dead spots.

6.2.4 Internal surfaces of containers should minimize corrosion, incrustation, water, and sediment clingage.

6.2.5 Container configuration should allow for the transfer of samples from one container to another or to the analytical apparatus while maintaining the integrity of the sample's composition.

6.2.6 Containers should have an inspection cover/closure/cap of sufficient size to facilitate filling, inspection, and cleaning. A means of installing security seals should be provided.

6.2.7 Containers should allow for the preparation of a homogeneous mixture of the sample while preventing the loss of any constituents which affect the representativeness of the sample and the accuracy of the analytical tests.

6.2.8 Containers should be made so as to avoid contamination from external water or other foreign material.

6.2.9 Containers used with closed loop mixers may be equipped with a discharge line inside the container which has multiple outlet ports. Another method of achieving the effect of multiple discharge ports is to split the discharge stream coming from the mixing pump into two or more separate streams with each having its own inlet into the sample container.

6.2.10 Containers used with closed loop mixers should be equipped with a pressure/vacuum relief valve set so as not to exceed the design pressure of the container. A pressure gage should also be provided.

6.2.11 Containers used with closed loop mixers may have multiple suction ports. As a minimum there should be one suction port at the lowest point in the container.

6.3 Container Size:
6.3.1 A general rule is that both primary and intermediate containers should be large enough to hold the required sample size within 80 % of the total capacity to facilitate mixing and to provide for thermal expansion.

6.3.2 The size of primary containers is determined from the sampling operation as described in Practices D4057 and D4177.

6.3.3 The size of intermediate containers should be as large as practical to minimize surface tension effects with due consideration given to storage space requirements, shipping rules and regulations, costs, availability, and other practical considerations.

6.4 Container Material:
6.4.1 Sample containers are normally made of glass, metal, or plastic. Exercise care in the selection of container material as it could affect the test results obtained from the sample. Containers acceptable for samples to be tested immediately may not be acceptable for storage of sample.

6.4.2 Glass containers are suitable for many sample test and storage requirements. Clear glass bottles may be examined visually for cleanliness and allow for visual inspection of the sample for free water or solid impurities. Some petroleum samples are affected by exposure to sunlight if clear glass is used. In these cases, brown glass bottles may afford the necessary protection.

6.4.3 Cans coated with tin must have seams that have been soldered on the exterior surfaces with a flux of rosin cleaned in a suitable solvent. Such a flux is easily removed with gasoline, whereas many others are very difficult to remove. Minute traces of flux may contaminate the sample so that results obtained on tests such as dielectric strength, oxidation resistance, and sludge formation may be erroneous. Exercise care also to ensure that samples containing free or entrained water are not corrosive to the metal. Internally epoxy-lined tin cans may have residual contamination and precaution should be taken to ensure its removal.

6.4.4 Cans made of stainless steel with welded seams are suitable for many sampling operations. Other than ensuring the cleanliness, use of these containers presents no unusual concerns.

6.4.5 Plastic bottles must be of a material that is impervious to attack from the sample. This is especially a consideration when using plastic for long term storage of certain petroleum products. Clear plastic bottles are unsuitable for samples sensitive to light.

6.4.6 When sampling aviation fuels, Practice D4306 should be consulted for guidance on container selection. This practice gives information on the types of containers that have been found satisfactory for tests to determine water separation, copper corrosion, electrical conductivity, thermal stability, lubricity, and trace metal content.

6.4.7 Appendix X1 is a guide for selecting the material of which sample containers may be made. It is impossible to cover all petroleum sampling container requirements; therefore, when questions arise as to a container's suitability for a given application, experience and testing should be relied upon.

6.5 Container Closures:
6.5.1 For glass bottles, stoppers or screw caps made of a material that will not deteriorate or contaminate the sample may be used. Care must be used when using cork stoppers. Situations where corks should not be used include liquids where loss of light ends may affect the test's results and liquids which are hydroscopic or which have a low water content specification. Rubber stoppers should never be used.

6.5.2 Cans and plastic bottles should be closed with screw caps made of the same material as the container. Caps should provide a vapor tight seal.

6.5.3 Screw caps for cans used to store or transport samples must be protected by a disk faced with a material that will not deteriorate or contaminate the sample. Consideration of closure type is important for samples where vapor loss will affect the test results.

6.6 Federal Container Requirements - In addition to the requirements listed above, any sample container that contains hazardous materials or the residue of hazardous material offered for shipment or transportation by air, public roadway, rail, or water, or any combination thereof, must meet the requirements set forth in applicable regulations such as DOT regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Section 173.

6.7 Container Cleanliness:
6.7.1 Sample containers must be clean and free from all substances which might contaminate the material being sampled (such as water, dirt, lint, washing compounds, naphtha and other solvents, soldering fluxes, acids, rust, and oil). Prior to further use, reusable containers such as cans and bottles should be rinsed with a suitable solvent. Use of sludge solvents to remove all traces of sediments and sludge may be necessary. Following the solvent wash, the container should be washed with a strong soap solution, rinsed thoroughly with tap water, and given a final rinse using distilled water. Dry the container either by passing a current of clean warm air through the container or by placing it in a hot dust-free cabinet at 40°C (104°F) or higher. When dry, stopper or cap the container immediately. Normally, it is not necessary to wash new containers.

6.7.2 Depending on service, receivers used in conjunction with automatic samplers may need to be washed with solvent between uses. In most applications, it is not desirable or practical to wash these receivers using soap and water as outlined above for cans and bottles. The cleanliness and integrity of all sample containers/receivers must be verified prior to use.

6.7.3 When sampling aviation fuel, Practice D4306 should be consulted for recommended cleaning procedures for containers that are to be used in tests for determination of water separation, copper corrosion, electrical conductivity, thermal stability, lubricity, and trace metal content.

6.8 Labels:
6.8.1 Each sample container is to have a label attached to it which meets the requirements of the parties involved.

6.8.2 Fig. 1 is an example of a label which shows the typical information needed to properly identify the sample. In addition to this basic information, certain governmental agencies such as DOT and OSHA have additional labeling requirements with which personnel involved in the handling and shipping of samples must be familiar.

6.9 Shipping Enclosures:
6.9.1 Many sample containers require special shipping enclosures before they can be transported from the point of collection. Regulations covering the transport of samples should be consulted (see the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Section 173).

6.10 Storage and Disposal:
6.10.1 Except when being transferred, samples should be maintained in a closed container in order to prevent loss of light components. Samples should be protected during storage to prevent weathering or degradation from light, heat, or other potential detrimental conditions.

6.10.2 There are many governmental agencies and jurisdictions that have regulations governing the storage and disposal of petroleum samples and containers that can be classified as hazardous materials or hazardous wastes. Those who handle petroleum samples must be familiar with these regulations in addition to their own company policies and procedures.