
ASTM D Standard Norms and Instruments for UV/Vis Spectroscopy
UV/Vis Spectrophotometric Method to Test and Evaluate Materials for Specific Applications
ASTM D refers to the standard test methods and practices established by ASTM International for various materials and products.
ASTM D standards cover a wide range of industries, including petroleum, plastics, construction, textiles, and more.
The "D" designation in ASTM D stands for "Materials for specific applications". These standards are developed through a rigorous process of research, testing, and consensus among industry experts to ensure accurate and reliable methods for testing and evaluating various materials.

ASTM D156-23. Saybolt Color
This test method covers the determination of the color of petroleum. ASTM D6045, which correlates ASTM D156, describes the Saybolt color measurement from tristimulus values using a UV/Vis spectrophotometer.
ASTM D516-22. Sulfate Ion in Water
This turbidimetric test method covers the determination of sulfate in water in the range from 5 mg ⁄L to 40 mg/L of sulfate ion (SO42-). It is applicable of sulfate determination in drinking, surface, and ground water.
ASTM D859-16(2021)e1. Silica in Water
This test method is a colorimetric method for determining silica in water and wastewater.
ASTM D1840-24. Naphthalene Hydrocarbons in Aviation Turbine Fuels by Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry
This test method covers the determination, by ultraviolet spectrophotometry, of the total concentration of naphthalene, acenaphthene, and alkylated derivatives of these hydrocarbons in jet fuels.
ASTM D1157-23. Total Inhibitor Content (TBC) of Light Hydrocarbons
This test method determines the total TBC inhibitor added to polymerization and recycle grades of butadiene or other C4 hydrocarbon mixtures. It includes all phenols and their quinone oxidation products and is applicable over the range of TBC from 50 - 500 mg ⁄kg.
ASTM D1252-06(2020). Chemical Oxygen Demand (Dichromate Oxygen Demand) of Water
These test methods cover the determination of the quantity of oxygen that certain impurities in water consume by reducing a dichromate solution under specific conditions with Test method A using titration and Test method B using spectrometry.
ASTM D1209-25. Standard Test Method for Color of Clear Liquids (APHA/Pt-Co/Hazen)
This test method outlines a visual and spectrophotometric method for measuring the color of light-colored liquids, specifically for materials with color-producing bodies similar to the platinum-cobalt color standards.
ASTM D1385. Standard Test Method for Hydrazine in Water
This test method involves the colorimetric determination of hydrazine in boiler feed waters, condensates, and treated natural or well waters, operating in the range of 5.0 to 200 µg/L (ppb). Photometric measurements are conducted at 458 nm using a 50 mm cell, with the capability to analyze higher hydrazine concentrations through sample dilution.
ASTM D6756-25. Determination of the Red Dye Concentration and Estimation of the ASTM Color of Diesel Fuel and Heating Oil Using a Portable Visible Spectrophotometer
This test method covers the determination of the red dye concentration of diesel fuel and heating oil and the estimation of the ASTM color of undyed and red-dyed diesel fuel and heating oil.
ASTM D7058-19. Determination of the Red Dye Concentration and Estimation of Saybolt Color of Aviation Turbine Fuels and Kerosine Using a Portable Visible Spectrophotometer
This test method covers the determination of the red dye concentration of aviation turbine fuel and kerosine and the estimation of the Saybolt color of undyed and red dyed aviation turbine fuel and kerosine.
ASTM D1687-17 (2025). Chromium in Water
These test methods cover the determination of hexavalent and total chromium in water. Test Method A is a photometric method that measures dissolved hexavalent chromium only.
ASTM D1783-01(2020). Phenolic Compounds in Water
These test methods cover the determination of the concentration of phenolic compounds in water by its reaction with 4-aminoantipyrine, and any color produced by other phenolic compounds is referred to as phenol.
ASTM D2121-23. Standard Test Methods for Polymer Content of Styrene Monomer
These test methods cover the determination of the polymer content of styrene monomer. It should be noted, however, that dimers and trimers are not measured by these test methods.
ASTM D2269-10 (2020). Evaluation of White Mineral Oils by Ultraviolet Absorption
This test method describes a procedure for the examination and evaluation of NF and USP grade white mineral oils. The UV absorbance of an oil sample extracted with dimethyl sulfoxide is measured between 260 nm and 350 nm and compared to a naphthalene standard.
ASTM D2330-20. Methylene Blue Active Substances in Water and Wastewater
This test method covers the determination of methylene blue active substances (MBAS) that react with methylene blue under the conditions specified in the test procedure. It is applicable for determining MBAS in water and wastewater.
ASTM D2972-15(2023). Arsenic in Water
These test methods cover the photometric and atomic absorption determination of arsenic in most waters and wastewaters.
ASTM D3231-25. Phosphorus in Gasoline
This test method covers the determination of phosphorus generally present as pentavalent phosphate esters, salts, or both in gasoline. This test method is applicable for the determination of phosphorus in the range from 0.2 to 40 mg/litre spectrophotometrically.
ASTM D3869-15(2023). Iodide and Bromide Ions in Brackish Water, Seawater, and Brines
These test methods cover the determination of soluble iodide and bromide ions, or both, in brackish water, seawater, and brines.
ASTM D4193-08(2020)e1. Thiocyanate in Water
This test method covers the quantitative colorimetric measurement of dissolved thiocyanate in water, wastewater, and saline water in the range from 0.1 to 2.0 mg/L.
ASTM D4590-22. Colorimetric Determination of p-tert-Butylcatechol In Styrene Monomer or AMS (a–Methylstyrene)
This test method outlines the determination of residual TBC in styrene monomer or AMS in 1-100 mg/kg range spectrophotometrically.
ASTM D4789-20e1. Solution Color of Bisphenol A
This test method covers the procedure for determination of the Platinum-Cobalt Color of bisphenol A dissolved in methanol.
ASTM D5386-24. Standard Test Method for Color of Liquids Using Tristimulus Colorimetry (APHA/Pt-Co/Hazen)
This test method covers an instrumental method for the CIE tristimulus measurement of the color of near-clear liquid samples. The test method converts measurement to color ratings in the platinum cobalt system, with nominal values in the 0-30 range.
ASTM D6045-20. ASTM Color
This test method covers the automatic determination of color of a wide variety of petroleum products by the tristimulus method. This test method correlates to Test Method D156 and Test Method D1500 as calculated by the instrumentation.
ASTM D6166-12 (2022). Gardner Color
This test method covers the quantitative determination of the color of clear, yellow/brown, liquid materials using an instrument capable of measuring transmitted color and reporting in Gardner colors.
ASTM D7558-09 (2024). Extractable Chemical Dialkyldithiocarbamate, Thiuram, and Mercaptobenzothiazole Accelerators in Natural Rubber Latex and Nitrile Gloves
This test method is designed to spectrophotometerically quantify the amount of total extractable accelerators like mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), thiuram, and thiocarbamate in natural rubber latex (NRL) and nitrile gloves.
ASTM D7772-15(2023). Standard Test Method for Carbon Black Extractables – Absorbance of Cyclohexane Extract
This method covers the determination of extinction (absorbance) of carbon black cyclohexane extract at 386 nm using a UV spectrophotometer.
ASTM D7781-23. Nitrite-Nitrate in Water
This test method is applicable to the determination of nitrate plus nitrite (as nitrogen) in drinking water, surface, saline, wastewater, and ground waters. The applicable range of this test method is from 0.05 to 5 mg/L of nitrogen.
ASTM D8496-23. Hydroquinone Content of Vinyl Acetate Monomer
This test method covers the determination of hydroquinone (HQ) in colorless vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) in the range from 1-25 ppm spectrophotometrically.







