The EPA publication SW-846, entitled Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, is OSW's official compendium of analytical and sampling methods that have been evaluated and approved for use in complying with the RCRA regulations. SW-846 functions primarily as a guidance document setting forth acceptable, although not required, methods for the regulated and regulatory communities to use in responding to RCRA-related sampling and analysis requirements. Information about other methods and analytical technologies may be accessed through the Clu-In webpage of EPA's Technology Innovation Office at http://clu-in.org/char1.cfm.
SW-846 is a multi-volume document that changes over time as new information and data are developed. It has been issued by EPA since 1980 and is currently in its third edition. Advances in analytical instrumentation and techniques are continually reviewed by OSW and incorporated into periodic updates to SW-846 to support changes in the regulatory program and to improve method performance and cost effectiveness. To date, EPA has finalized Updates I, II, IIA, IIB, III and IIIA to the SW-846 manual, and the updated and fully integrated manual contains approximately 3500 pages. The Methods Team of OSW has also made Draft Updates IVA and IVB for public use. See below for how to obtain official printed copies of SW-846 from GPO or NTIS, how to obtain a CD-ROM of SW-846 from NTIS,

SW-846 contains over 200 documents, including the Table of Contents, Disclaimer, Preface, Chapters One through Thirteen, and many different methods for the sampling and analysis of wastes. All of the documents found in the Third Edition of SW-846, as updated by Updates I, II, IIA, IIB, III, IIIA, IIIB, IVA and IVB are located at this site. Just click on the appropriate document type at the top of this page, which will in turn take you to a complete listing of the applicable documents and links to each of those documents. For example, in order to locate Method 1311, the TCLP, click on the phrase "1000 Series," which will take you to a listing of the SW-846 methods in the 1000 series.
Table of Contents (PDF) (14 pp,
94 K)
Disclaimer (PDF) (1 pg, 51 K)
Abstract (PDF) (1 pg, 55 K)
Methods Status Table (PDF) (16 pp
297 K)
Preface (PDF) (2 pp, 62 K)
Acknowledgements (PDF) (1 pg, 32 K)
The Office of Resource
Conservation and Recovery (ORCR) Policy Statement (PDF) (5 pp, 120 K)
Top of Page
Chapters
Chapter One -- Quality Control (PDF) (25 pp, 204 K)
Chapter Two -- Choosing the Correct Procedure (PDF)
(90 pp, 557 K)
Chapter Three -- Inorganic Analytes (PDF) (28 pp, 276 K)
Chapter Four -- Organic
Analytes (PDF) (22 pp, 182 K)
Chapter Five -- Miscellaneous Test Methods (PDF) (3 pp, 48 K)
Chapter
Six -- Properties (PDF) (1 pg, 15K)
Chapter Seven -- Characteristics Introduction and Regulatory
Definitions (PDF) (7 pp, 35K)
Chapter Eight -- Methods for Determining Characteristics (PDF) (4 pp, 13K)
Chapter Nine -- Sampling Plan (PDF) (79 pp, 684K)
Chapter Ten -- Sampling Methods (PDF) (1 pg, 13K)
Chapter Eleven -- Ground Water Monitoring (PDF) (1 pp, 9 K)
Chapter Twelve -- Land Treatment Monitoring
(PDF) (16 pp, 220 K)
Chapter Thirteen -- Incineration (PDF) (19 pp, 228 K)
An official printed copy of SW-846 and most of its updates can be purchased from either the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) or the National Technical Information Service (NTIS).
Print SW846 HERE for free as a PDF.
Government Printing Office
GPO offers a subscription service, which includes the four-volume basic manual and updates over a certain period. Each time a final update is issued, subscribers need to integrate it into their copy of the manual by replacing revised methods and adding new methods. The subscription can be obtained by contacting:
U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO)
Superintendent of Documents
Washington, DC 20402
Phone: (202) 512-1800
Publication Number: 955-001-00000-1
GPO Prices: $367.00 per domestic subscription, $513.80 for foreign mailing.
If you have questions about your current GPO SW-846 subscription, call (202) 512-2303.
National Technical Information Service
NTIS offers both copies of the current, fully integrated manual and individual copies of most updates and the basic manual (Third Edition before any updates). These documents can be obtained by contacting:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
U.S. Department of Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161
(800) 553-NTIS (553-6847)
From outside the continental U.S., please call 703-605-6000.
For on-line ordering of hard copies of SW-846 contact:NTIS
NTIS publication numbers and prices (as of 7/26/02):
Integrated Manual; PB2002105715; $360.00 (foreign $720.00)
Final Update I; PB94170313; $123.00 (foreign $246.00)
Final Update II and IIA; PB95187225; $150.00 (foreign $300.00)
Final Update IIB; PB95234480; $20.00 (foreign $40.00)
Final Update III; PB97156137; $215.00 (foreign $430.00)
Basic Manual; PB88239223; $200.00 (foreign $400.00)
Draft Update IVA; PB98-111750; $79.00 (foreign $158.00)
Draft Update IVB; PB2002105723; $100.00 (foreign $200.00)
Prices are subject to change.
NTIS also offers SW-846 on CD-ROM. It is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh operating systems. The CD-ROM utilizes Adobe Acrobat, with a powerful text search engine, and the means to electronically jump to selected methods via hypertext links. Users can view and print the material, including figures and flow diagrams, and cut and paste or export text and diagrams.
Version 2 of the CD-ROM includes the entire SW-846, Third Edition, as amended through Final Update III. A CD-ROM of Draft Update IVA is also available.
To order SW-846 on CD-ROM, contact:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
U.S. Department of Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161
(800) 553-NTIS (553-6847)
From outside the continental U.S., please call 703-605-6000.
For on-line ordering of SW-846 on CD-ROM contact: NTIS
NTIS publication numbers and prices for the Version 2, SW-846 CD-ROM:
Single user: PB97501928; $125 (foreign $165)
5 LAN users: PB97502512; $320 (foreign $415)
Unlimited users: PB97502520; $1,250 (foreign $1,650)
SW-846 contains over 200 documents, including the Table of Contents, Disclaimer, Preface, Chapters One through Thirteen, and many different methods for the sampling and analysis of wastes. All of the documents found in the Third Edition of SW-846, as updated by Updates I, II, IIA, IIB, III, IIIA and IIIB are located at this site. Just click on the appropriate document type at the top of this page, which will in turn take you to a complete listing of the applicable documents and links to each of those documents. For example, in order to locate Method 1311, the TCLP, click on the phrase "1000 Series," which will take you to a listing of the SW-846 methods in the 1000 series.
Table of Contents
Chapters
The SW-846 Compendium consists of over 200 analytical methods for sampling and analyzing waste and other matrices. The methods are divided into sections, or “series,” according to the type of method, analyte(s) and technique(s) used.
For more information on which method(s) to use, EPA developed a searchable table of all methods in the SW-846 Compendium. Select a series below to view its methods:
Methods 0010-0100 cover sampling methods for emissions from stationary sources such as hazardous and municipal waste incinerators. Targeted parameters for these methods include hazardous organic compounds (e.g., volatiles, semivolatiles, dioxins and dibenzofurans), metals, hydrogen chloride, chlorine, and hexavalent chromium. SW-846 also includes three methods which were referred from the Clean Air Act program.
The 1000 series includes methodologies for determining the ignitability, corrosivity, and toxicity characteristics [See Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 261 Subpart C for more information about how to determine if a waste or material is hazardous or non-hazardous]. This series also includes several leaching and extraction procedures, including the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) and the Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP).
The 3000 series contains digestion and extraction procedures used for the preparation of samples for analysis of inorganic parameters. These techniques include acid digestion, alkaline digestion, and microwave assisted digestion.
The 3500 series contains extraction procedures used for the preparation of samples for analysis of organic parameters. These techniques include liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, Soxhlet extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction, among others.
The 3600 series contains cleanup procedures for extracts from organic samples. These techniques include alumina cleanup, florisil cleanup, and silica gel cleanup, among others.
The 4000 series introduces the immunoassay technique for the separation, detection and quantitation of both organic and inorganic analytes in diverse environmental and waste matrices. Immunoassay methods produce two types of quantitative results:
Commercially-available testing products present immunoassay protocols that are rapid, simple and portable and can be used effectively in both laboratory and field settings. Results are immediately available upon completion of the test, and can assist in the on-site management of personnel and equipment, as well as the data management activities of the laboratory.
For additional guidance regarding immunoassay analysis see:
The 5000 series includes several sample preparation methods (purge-and-trap, extraction, azeotropic distillation, vacuum distillation, dilution, headspace, etc.) that introduce volatile organic compounds into a detection device for various matrices (e.g., aqueous, soil/sediment, solid waste, organic solvents, air and oily waste).
The 6000 series contains analytical and guidance methods used to determine inorganic analytes by the following technologies: inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-optical emission (OES) and mass spectrometry (MS), x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), capillary ion electrophoresis (CE) and isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS).
The 7000 series contains analytical and guidance methods used to determine the presence of inorganic analytes (including arsenic, antimony, chromium, mercury, white phosphorus and selenium) by the following technologies: graphite furnace and flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GFAA and FLAA), anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), cold-vapor technique, atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) and other techniques.
The 8000 series contains analytical and guidance methods used to determine organic compounds by technologies including but not limited to: gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and electron capture detection (ECD). Note that several of these methods are for screening only. SW-846 Chapter Four contains more information about the 8000 series methods.
The 9000 series contains analytical methods and guidance used to determine a variety of inorganic/organic parameters and physical properties/method-defined parameters in many different matrices. Described generally in Chapter 5 and Chapter 6, this miscellaneous compilation includes methods that use the following technologies: titration, colorimetry, conductivity, potentiometry and ion chromatography. Note that several of these methods are for screening only.
Use the links below to access the chapters of guidance on SW-846 test methods.
The Office of Air Quality Standards & Planning (OAQPS) site provides information about methods that measure air emissions.
The Environmental Test Methods and Guidance site links to many other pages with test methods information, including water and air.
The Office of Water Office of Science and Technology site provides information about water methods.
EPA's Technology Innovation Office (TIO), through its Hazardous Waste Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN) site provides information about innovative treatment technologies for the hazardous waste remediation community.
The EPA Quality System Documents site contains quality system documents for EPA and non-EPA organizations including guidance on the data quality objective (DQO) process.
Manual 42 published by the American Society for Testing and Materials provides guidance in the development of sampling strategies to meet project objectives associated with RCRA waste management activities.
PSIgate is a free service that offers access to high quality Web resources in the physical sciences; there are currently 9609 resources in astronomy, chemistry, earth sciences, materials sciences, physics, and science history and policy.
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