To analyze a substance, one or more representative samples must be taken and analyzed. Therefore, proper sampling is essential for subsequent analyses and for obtaining reliable results.
Intertek Dominican Republic is accredited according to ASTM standards for the sampling of gasoline and petroleum at service stations and industrial dispensers, manual sampling of liquid petroleum products, and natural gas sampling.
The sample taken must be homogeneous and representative of the average of the substance to be analyzed. Sampling can be conducted in various ways depending on the type of substance being analyzed, although there are some general standards:
For liquid substances, the sample must be homogenized/stirred before extraction. Sampling can be carried out at different levels/heights, at different times, or using a “running sample” (when it is impossible to homogenize the contents of a tank due to the absence of mechanical stirrers, a running sample must be taken—i.e., a composite sample from the entire tank, collected in a single operation from bottom to top), depending on the aspect to be analyzed.
For bulk products, samples are taken from different points, homogenized, and a portion is analyzed.
For natural gas, samples can be taken in-situ using gas sampling bottles or through the gas transport line connected to the chromatograph.
Afterward, samples are labeled for identification and processed for storage and analysis. A portion of the sample should always be retained in case a confirmation or counter-analysis is required.
