ASTM D5919-96

Standard Practice for Determination of Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon by a Micro-Isotherm Technique for Adsorbates at ppb Concentrations

SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the assessment of activated carbon for the removal of low concentrations of adsorbable constituents from water and wastewater using the bottle point isotherm technique. It can be used to characterize the adsorptive properties of virgin and reactivated activated carbons.  
1.2 This practice can be used in systems with constituent concentrations in the low milligrams per litre or micrograms per litre concentration ranges.  
1.3 This practice can be used to determine the adsorptive capacity of and Freundlich constants for volatile organic compounds provided the handling procedures described in this practice are followed carefully.  
1.4 The following safety caveat applies to the procedure section of this practice: 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Mar-1996
• Technical Committee: D28 - Activated Carbon
• Drafting Committee: D28.02 - Liquid Phase Evaluation

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D5919-96(2001) - Standard Practice for Determination of Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon by a Micro-Isotherm Technique for Adsorbates at ppb Concentrations
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1996

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or
withdrawn. Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 5919 – 96
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Practice for
Determination of Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon
by a Micro-Isotherm Technique for Adsorbates at ppb
1
Concentrations
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5919; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope water, refer to Terminology D 1129.
1.1 This practice covers the assessment of activated carbon
4. Summary of Practices
for the removal of low concentrations of adsorbable constitu-
4.1 This practice consists of the determination of the ad-
ents from water and wastewater using the bottle point isotherm
sorptive capacity of activated carbon for adsorbable constitu-
technique. It can be used to characterize the adsorptive
ents by contacting the aqueous solution contained in an
properties of virgin and reactivated activated carbons.
essentially zero head space container with activated carbon,
1.2 This practice can be used in systems with constituent
determining the amount of the constituents removed, and
concentrations in the low milligrams per litre or micrograms
calculating the adsorptive capacity and the Freundlich con-
per litre concentration ranges.
stants, K and 1/n, from a Freundlich isotherm plot.
1.3 This practice can be used to determine the adsorptive
4.1.1 The weights of activated carbon used in this practice
capacity of and Freundlich constants for volatile organic
may have to be adjusted to achieve reasonable levels of
compounds provided the handling procedures described in this
removal of the constituent. The best data is obtained when
practice are followed carefully.
carbon dosages are selected that result in no more than 90 % or
1.4 The following safety caveat applies to the procedure
no less than 10 % of the adsorbable constituents being removed
section of this practice: This standard does not purport to
from the water by the carbon.
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
4.1.2 If carbon dosages used are less than 1 mg, larger
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
volumes of the aqueous solution may be used, such as 1000
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
mL.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 This practice allows the adsorption capacity at equilib-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2
rium of an activated carbon for adsorbable constituents present
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
2 in water to be determined. The Freundlich K and 1/n constants
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
that can be calculated based upon information collected using
D 3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Con-
2 this practice can be used to estimate carbon loading capacities
duits
3 and usages rates for the constituent present in a water stream at
D 2652 Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon
3 other concentrations.
D 2867 Test Method for Moisture in Activated Carbon
6. Interferences
3. Terminology
6.1 The water shall not contain any nondissolved compo-
3.1 Definitions:
nents.
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice relating to
6.2 The presence of naturally occurring organic compounds
activated carbon, refer to Terminology D 2652.
such as humic acids in the water being studied may signifi-
3.1.2 For definitions of terms used in this practice relating to
cantly affect the ability of the carbon to adsorb the constituent
of interest. Results obtained when using water other than
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-28 on Activated reagent grade water may be unique for the particular water
Carbon and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D28.02 on Liquid Phase
used and it may not be possible to apply these results to other
Evaluation.
water systems.
Current edition approved March 10, 1996. Published May 1996.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.01.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D 5919
6.3 The adsorption isotherm data collected using this prac- 10.4 The bottles are then centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 15 min
tice can be affected by the ionic strength, pH and temperature to settle the activated carbon. The supernate is poured off and
of the water, and the presence and growth of microorganisms. the procedure is repeated until the supernatant is clear. Allow-
ing the mixture to sit for a period of time to allow th
...