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Troubleshooting
If foaming or caking of the membrane continues to be a problem even with reduced
sample weights of 0.5 g, try the following:
• Add activated charcoal so it covers the surface of the solid and then fill the
remaining void space with glass wool. When trying this procedure it would be
recommended that 4–5 mL of water be used versus 6 mL.
• For soil or organic samples containing cyanide, Biobeads™, manufactured by
BIO-RAD, part number SM–2, have proven effective in laboratories.
• test a known standard with one of these procedures and a spiked sample of the
foaming or caking matrix to conclude whether these solutions will work.