This standard may only be used by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.

ISBN 0-626-18430-4
SANS 5831:2006
Edition 2

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Presence of chlorides in aggregates

Published by Standards South Africa

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© Standards South Africa
 This standard may only be used by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.

SANS 5831:2006
Edition 2

Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope

Foreword
This South African standard was approved by National Committee StanSA SC 5120.61A,
Construction standards – Cement, lime and concrete, in accordance with procedures of Standards
South Africa, in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.

This standard was published in December 2006. This edition cancels and replaces the first edition
(SABS SM 831:1976).

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 This standard may only be used by approved subscription and freemailing clients of the SABS.

SANS 5831:2006
Edition 2

Chloride content of aggregates

1 Scope
This standard specifies a method for determining the presence of chloride in aggregates.

2 Normative reference
The following referenced document is indispensable for the application of this document. All
normative documents are subject to revision and, since any reference to a normative document is
deemed to be a reference to the latest edition of that document, parties to agreements based on
this document are encouraged to take steps to ensure the use of the most recent edition of the
normative document indicated below. Information on currently valid national and international
standards can be obtained from Standards South Africa.

SANS 202 (SABS SM 830), Chloride content of aggregates.

3 Reagents
3.1 General
Use only distilled or demineralized water, and reagents that are of reagent grade.

3.2 Silver nitrate solution

Dissolve 5 g of silver nitrate (AgNO3) in enough water to produce 100 mL of the solution. The
solution should be freshly prepared and should be protected from light.

3.3 Concentrated nitric acid (HNO3)

Use nitric acid that is free from nitrous acid (HNO2) and that is stored in an amber glass container.

3.4 Dilute ammonia solution

A 10 % volume fraction aqueous solution of ammonia (NH3).

3.5 Mercury (II) thiocyanate (Hg(SCN)2) solution

A saturated solution in methanol.

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SANS 5831:2006
Edition 2

3.6 Ammonium iron (III) sulfate (FeNH4(SO4)2.12H2O) solution

A 15 % mass per volume fraction solution of ammonium iron (III) sulfate in 9N nitric acid
(approximately 60 % nitric acid).

3.7 Sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions

3.7.1 Standard solution

A solution containing 500 mg of Cl-/L and made by dissolving 0,8242 g of dried sodium chloride in
water and diluting to 1 L.

3.7.2 Working solutions

Five working solutions made by so diluting the standard sodium chloride solution as to make
solutions that contain 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, and 50 mg Cl-/L respectively.

4 Preparation of test specimen

Prepare a filtrate as described in SANS 202.

5 Procedure
5.1 Test for presence of chloride compounds

5.1.1 Add 1 mL of the nitric acid and 10 mL of the silver nitrate solution to a suitable quantity of the
filtrate. A curdy white precipitate or a white turbidity is formed if a chloride is present.

5.1.2 If a precipitate is formed, confirm the presence of a chloride by filtering off the precipitate,
washing it with water, transferring it to a test tube, and adding dilute ammonia solution.

5.1.3 If the precipitate is silver chloride, it will dissolve and, on the addition of nitric acid to the
solution, the silver chloride will be re-precipitated.

5.2 Test for traces of chlorides

5.2.1 Add one or two drops of nitric acid to 10 mL of the filtrate and then add 1 mL of the silver
nitrate solution.

5.2.2 If a chloride is present the solution will develop opalescence, which will disappear when the
ammonia solution is added.

5.3 Limit test for chlorides

5.3.1 Dilute a suitable volume of the filtrate with 9 volumes of water. Pipette 50 mL of the diluted
filtrate into a Nessler tube of capacity 100 mL and which is clearly marked at volumes of 50 mL and
100 mL.

5.3.2 Pipette into an identical Nessler tube 50 mL of the working sodium chloride solution of the
concentration appropriate to the specified limit.

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SANS 5831:2006
Edition 2

5.3.3 Add 2 mL of the mercury (II) thiocyanate solution to the contents of each of the Nessler tubes
and mix the contents of each tube well. Then add 2 mL of the ammonium iron (III) sulfate solution to
the contents of each tube and again mix well.

5.3.4 Allow the colour in the tubes to develop for 5 min and then dilute the contents of each tube to
the 100 mL mark with water and mix well.

5.3.5 Stand the Nessler tubes next to each other on a white non-reflective surface and, by viewing
them vertically from the top, compare the colours of the contents of the tubes.

5.3.6 If the colour of the contents of the tube containing the filtrate is darker than that of the
contents of the tube containing the sodium chloride solution, it indicates that the chloride content of
the aggregate, expressed as Cl -, exceeds the limit for chloride content indicated by the solution.

© Standards South Africa