ASTM D3466-06(2023)

Standard Test Method for Ignition Temperature of Granular Activated Carbon

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Activated carbons used in gas-phase adsorption may be subjected to heating, either from heat applied externally to the carbon bed, or heat generated by radioactive4 contaminants, or by the adsorption process itself. If the application of heat is sudden, or if no ample means to conduct the heat from the carbon bed exists, the carbon bed may ignite. This test method provides a controlled laboratory test to determine the temperatures at which such ignition occurs. As stated in 1.2, this does not necessarily give the temperature at which ignition will occur under a specific bed operating condition. This test method does, however, allow some ranking of carbons with regard to ignition temperature, and is a useful quality control method for unused carbons.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of reference ignition temperature of granular activated carbon in flowing air. This test method provides a basis for comparing the ignition characteristics of different carbons, or the change in ignition characteristics of the same carbon after a period of service.  
1.2 The ignition temperature, as determined by this test method, cannot be interpreted as the probable ignition temperature of the same carbon under the operating conditions of a specific application unless those conditions are essentially the same as those in this test method.2 If it is desired to determine the ignition temperature of the carbon under a specific set of operating conditions, the test may be modified to simulate such conditions, taking into consideration the following variables: (1) air flow rate; (2) moisture content of the carbon; (3) bed depth; (4) relative humidity of the air stream; (5) heating rate; (6) contaminants (for example, hydrocarbons, etc.) in the air stream; and (7) contaminants that may have been adsorbed by the carbon under prior service conditions.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 7.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2023
• ICS: 75.160.10 - Solid fuels
• Technical Committee: D28 - Activated Carbon
• Drafting Committee: D28.04 - Gas Phase Evaluation Tests

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D3466-06(2018) - Standard Test Method for Ignition Temperature of Granular Activated Carbon
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D4069-95(2020) - Standard Specification for Impregnated Activated Carbon Used to Remove Gaseous Radio-Iodines from Gas Streams
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2023

Overview

ASTM D3466-06(2023): Standard Test Method for Ignition Temperature of Granular Activated Carbon establishes a laboratory protocol for determining the reference ignition temperature of granular activated carbon in a flowing air environment. Developed by ASTM International, this standard is essential for assessing safety and quality in applications where activated carbon is used, particularly for gas-phase adsorption processes. Ignition temperature is a critical parameter in managing fire risks associated with the use of granular activated carbon, which may be subject to internal or external heat sources.

Key Topics

• Ignition Temperature Determination
  Provides a controlled method to identify the temperature at which a sample of granular activated carbon ignites in a laboratory setting.
• Comparative Evaluation
  Facilitates comparing ignition characteristics between different types of activated carbon, or evaluating changes in a single carbon sample after use.
• Influencing Variables
  Highlights operational factors that can affect the ignition temperature, including:
  • Air flow rate
  • Carbon moisture content
  • Bed depth
  • Relative humidity
  • Heating rate
  • Presence of contaminants in the air or adsorbed on the carbon
• Quality Control
  Useful as a reproducible quality control tool for unused activated carbons, providing data to rank materials by ignition susceptibility.

Applications

ASTM D3466-06(2023) is valuable for:

• Process Safety Management
  Industries using granular activated carbon in air purification, chemical processing, or hazardous material management can assess baseline ignition points and implement appropriate safety procedures.
• Product Quality Verification
  Manufacturers and suppliers use this standard as part of quality assurance protocols to ensure product consistency and compliance with safety guidelines.
• Comparative Research and Development
  Enables researchers to rank and select activated carbons for specific gas-phase adsorption applications, based on their ignition profiles.
• Regulatory and Environmental Compliance
  Assists end-users in conforming with safety, environmental, and facility management standards related to combustibility and handling of activated carbon.

Important Considerations:
The test method provides reference data under controlled laboratory conditions. The actual ignition temperature in operational use may differ unless real-world conditions closely match those in the test. Users may adapt the test protocol to simulate specific conditions, considering key operational variables mentioned above.

Related Standards

• ASTM D2652: Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon
• ASTM D2854: Test Method for Apparent Density of Activated Carbon
• ASTM D3195/D3195M: Practice for Rotameter Calibration
• ASTM E11: Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves
• ASTM E220: Test Method for Calibration of Thermocouples by Comparison Techniques
• ASTM E300: Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals

Practical Value

Adopting ASTM D3466-06(2023) ensures reliable and repeatable determination of ignition temperature for granular activated carbon, supporting workplace safety, material selection, and regulatory compliance. This standard is particularly relevant for industries focused on environmental safety, chemical processing, air filtration, and any application where the thermal stability of activated carbon is a critical concern.

Keywords: ASTM D3466, ignition temperature, granular activated carbon, gas-phase adsorption, safety, quality control, laboratory testing, industrial standards

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D3466 − 06 (Reapproved 2023)
Standard Test Method for
Ignition Temperature of Granular Activated Carbon
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3466; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This test method covers the determination of reference 2.1 ASTM Standards:
ignition temperature of granular activated carbon in flowing D2652 Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon
air. This test method provides a basis for comparing the D2854 Test Method for Apparent Density of Activated
ignition characteristics of different carbons, or the change in Carbon
ignition characteristics of the same carbon after a period of D3195/D3195M Practice for Rotameter Calibration
service. E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test
Sieves
1.2 The ignition temperature, as determined by this test
E220 Test Method for Calibration of Thermocouples By
method, cannot be interpreted as the probable ignition tem-
Comparison Techniques
perature of the same carbon under the operating conditions of
E300 Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals
a specific application unless those conditions are essentially the
same as those in this test method. If it is desired to determine
3. Terminology
the ignition temperature of the carbon under a specific set of
operating conditions, the test may be modified to simulate such 3.1 Definitions—Terms relating to this test method are
defined in Terminology D2652.
conditions, taking into consideration the following variables:
(1) air flow rate; (2) moisture content of the carbon; (3) bed
4. Summary of Test Method
depth; (4) relative humidity of the air stream; (5) heating rate;
(6) contaminants (for example, hydrocarbons, etc.) in the air
4.1 A sample of carbon is exposed to a heated air stream, the
stream; and (7) contaminants that may have been adsorbed by
temperature of which is slowly increased until the carbon
the carbon under prior service conditions.
ignites. The temperature of the carbon bed and of the air
entering the bed are recorded, and ignition is defined as the
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
point at which the carbon temperature suddenly rises above the
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
temperature of the air entering the bed.
standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5. Significance and Use
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5.1 Activated carbons used in gas-phase adsorption may be
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- subjected to heating, either from heat applied externally to the
carbon bed, or heat generated by radioactive contaminants, or
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 7. by the adsorption process itself. If the application of heat is
sudden, or if no ample means to conduct the heat from the
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- carbon bed exists, the carbon bed may ignite. This test method
provides a controlled laboratory test to determine the tempera-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- tures at which such ignition occurs. As stated in 1.2, this does
not necessarily give the temperature at which ignition will
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. occur under a specific bed operating condition. This test
method does, however, allow some ranking of carbons with
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D28 on
Activated Carbon and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D28.04 on Gas For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Phase Evaluation Tests. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2023. Published January 2024. Originally Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D3466 – 06 (2018). the ASTM website.
DOI: 10.1520/D3466-06R23. Milham and Kovoch, “Treatment of Airborne Radioactive Wastes,” Interna-
Suzin, Y., et al., Carbon, Vol 37, 1999, pp. 335–346. tional Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1968 (Paper SM-110/49).
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D3466 − 06 (2023)
regard to ignition temperature, and is a useful quality control 6.4 Flowmeter, capable of metering air flow rates to
method for unused carbons. 20 L ⁄min.
6.5 Heating Mantle, tape, or oven to surround the ignition
6. Apparatus
tube; at least 50 W.
6.1 Quartz Ignition Tube and Sample Holder, as shown in
6.6 Variable Transformer or temperature programmer for
Fig. 1.
heater.
6.2 Thermocouples, Chromel-Alumel with Inconel sheath,
0.635 mm diameter, three required.
6.7 Supply of Compressed Nitrogen.
6.3 Supply of Clean, Dry, Oil-Free Air—The air must be
6.8 Quartz Beads, 4 mm in diameter or smaller, as needed to
passed through a HEPA filter and a bed of activated carbon
prevent fluidization.
containing at least 300 mL of carbon per litre per minute of air
6.9
...