Silt Density Index (SDI) of Water: Standard Test Method For
Silt Density Index (SDI) of Water: Standard Test Method For
Silt Density Index (SDI) of Water: Standard Test Method For
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
D 4189
NOTE 7—The pressure must remain at 207 6 7 kPa (306 1 psi)
throughout the test.
NOTE 8—The water temperature must remain constant (61°C) through-
out the test. This is necessary because flow rate changes by about 3 %/°C.
7.9 After completion of the test, the membrane filter may be
retained for future reference.
8. Calculation
8.1 Calculate the silt density index (SDIT) as follows:
% P30
SDIT 5 T 5
ti
f
F G
1 2 t 100
T
where:
% P30 = percent at 207 kPa (30 psi) feed pressure,
T = total elapsed flow time, min (usually 15 min, see
Note 9),
ti = initial time required to collect 500 mL of sample,
s, and
FIG. 1 Apparatus for Measuring the Silt Density Index tf = time required to collect 500 mL of sample after
test time T (usually 15 min, see Note 9), s.
supply gage pressure of >276 kPa (>40 psi). NOTE 9—For this test method, % P30 should not exceed 75 %. If % P30
7.3 Measure the temperature of the water. exceeds this value, use a shorter time for T; that is, 5 or 10-min
7.4 Open the membrane filter holder and place a 0.45-µm measurements in 7.8. If % P30 exceeds 75 % after 5 min, other test
membrane filter (47 mm in diameter) on the support plate of methods should be used to analyze for particulate matter.
the holder. Some filter holders include a foam support pad, 9. Report
which should be used. Place the filter grid side up. Handle the
membrane filter only with dull tweezers to avoid puncturing. 9.1 Report the following information:
Avoid touching the membrane filter with the fingers. 9.1.1 The SDI, with a subscript indicating the total elapsed
flow time (T) in minutes,
NOTE 1—Other membrane filter sizes, that is, 25 mm or 90 mm 9.1.2 The water temperature before and after the test, and
diameter, can be used. 9.1.3 The manufacturer of the 0.45-µm membrane filter
NOTE 2—Record the manufacturer of the membrane filter and the
used for the test, as well as the manufacturer’s identification for
manufacturer’s identification for the membrane filter.
the membrane filter.
7.5 Make sure the O-ring is in good condition and properly
placed. Replace the top half of the filter holder and close 10. Precision and Bias 4
loosely. 10.1 The interlaboratory test was performed by nine opera-
7.6 Bleed out trapped air by cracking the ball valve. Close tors from five laboratories using test waters of their choice,
the valve and tighten the filter holder. whose SDI values varied from 0.4 to 15. Waters used included
7.7 Open the ball valve. Simultaneously, using a stopwatch, RO permeate, deionized water, tap water, and undefined
begin measuring the time required for the flow of 500 mL. process water. The pooled single operator precision is 0.43.
Record the time (ti). Leave the valve open for continued flow. 10.2 Only pooled single operator precision was determined
NOTE 3—Time (ti) to collect 500 mL should be within6 10 % of the for this test method. The test method is very sensitive to both
time to collect 500 mL using nonplugging reference water at the same quantity and size of suspended particles, which contribute to
water temperature. The nonplugging reference water can be obtained by the plugging of the membrane filter. Maintenance of the
filtering distilled water through a 0.2-µm pore size membrane filter. integrity of the samples cannot be guaranteed through prepa-
NOTE 4—If ti is less than 90 % of the nonplugging time, the filter may ration of the bulk mix, subsampling for testing, shipping, and
be cracked and a new filter should be used. If ti is more than 110 % of the
holding. Moreover, approximately 5 gal of sample are required
nonplugging time, then a smaller sample size, that is, 250 mL or 100 mL
should be used. for each SDI test run. Thus, if large stock solutions exhibiting
NOTE 5—The 500-mL sample size is based on a 47-mm diameter filter. different SDI values could be prepared and if representative 30
If a different filter size is used, adjust the sample size in direct proportion to 55 gallon subsamples could be drawn, shipping two or three
to the filter area. of these samples to each of six or more laboratories for
7.8 Measure and record the times to collect additional full-scale testing was not considered to be practical.
500-mL (Note 6) volumes of sample, starting the collection at 10.3 The bias of this test method cannot be determined
5, 10, and 15 min of total elapsed flow time. Measure the water because the test method is based upon waters of choice, which
temperature and check the pressure as each sample is collected may differ with each source.
(Note 7 and Note 8).
NOTE 6—If the initial size was not 500 mL, use the same sample size 4
Supporting data for this test method are available from ASTM Headquarters.
as used in 7.7. Request RR: D19 – 1151.
2
D 4189
10.4 It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the validity of 11. Keywords
this test method for waters of untested matrices. 11.1 RO; reverse osmosis; SDI; silt density index
ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.
This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.
This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or service@astm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org).