ASTM D3860-98

Standard Practice for Determination of Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon by Aqueous Phase Isotherm Technique

SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the determination of the adsorptive capacity of activated carbon to remove undesirable constituents from water and waste water. It can be used to evaluate the adsorptive capacity of both virgin and reactivated granular activated carbons and powdered activated carbon.
1.2 This practice is not recommended for concentrations of volatile constituents that may be lost under the filter conditions of the procedure section. If volatile constituents are suspected, comparison of a vacuum filtered and unfiltered sample analysis shall be conducted.
1.3 This practice is recommended to determine the adsorptive capacity of activated carbon for the following applications, but is not limited to these applications:
1.3.1 Removal of color from dye mill waste water,
1.3.2 Removal of taste or odor constituents, or both, from potable waters,
1.3.3 Removal of toxicants from water,
1.3.4 Removal of surface active agents from water,
1.3.5 Removal of BOD5 from sanitary waste waters, and
1.3.6 Removal of TOC from industrial waste waters.
1.4 The following safety caveat applies to the procedure section of this practice: This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems 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-Oct-1998
• ICS: 71.060.10 - Chemical elements
• Technical Committee: D28 - Activated Carbon
• Drafting Committee: D28.02 - Liquid Phase Evaluation

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D3860-98(2003) - Standard Practice for Determination of Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon by Aqueous Phase Isotherm Technique
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4607-14(2021) - Standard Test Method for Determination of Iodine Number of Activated Carbon
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1998

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 3860 – 98
Standard Practice for
Determination of Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon
by Aqueous Phase Isotherm Technique
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3860; 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 3. Terminology
1.1 This practice covers the determination of the adsorptive 3.1 Definitions:
capacity of activated carbon to remove undesirable constituents 3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice relating to
from water and waste water. It can be used to evaluate the activated carbon, refer to Terminology D 2652.
adsorptive capacity of activated or reactivated carbon. 3.1.2 For definition of terms used in this practice relating to
1.2 This practice is not recommended unless special precau- water, refer to Terminology D 1129.
tions are taken to reduce loss during sample preparation and
4. Summary of Practice
analysis.
1.3 This practice is recommended to determine the adsorp- 4.1 This practice consists of the determination of the ad-
sorptive capacity of activated carbon for adsorbable constitu-
tive capacity of activated carbon for the following applications,
but is not limited to these applications: ents by contacting the aqueous solution with activated carbon,
determining the amount of the constituents removed, and
1.3.1 Removal of color from dye mill waste water,
1.3.2 Removal of taste or odor constituents, or both, from calculating the adsorptive capacity from a Freundlich isotherm
plot.
potable waters,
1.3.3 Removal of toxicants from water, 4.1.1 Sample weights of activated carbon may have to be
adjusted, depending on the concentration of adsorbable con-
1.3.4 Removal of surface active agents from water,
1.3.5 Removal of BOD from sanitary waste waters, and stituents in the water.
1.3.6 Removal of TOC from industrial waste waters.
5. Significance and Use
1.4 The following safety caveat applies to the procedure
5.1 This practice is used when activated carbon is consid-
section of this practice: This standard does not purport to
ered as an adsorbent in treating water. Since both granular and
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
powdered activated carbons are commercially available, a
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
standard practice is needed to ensure that the activated carbons
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
are evaluated under the same test conditions. Specified particle
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
size carbon is to be used to ensure that the same test conditions
2. Referenced Documents
are used. The practice is generally performed at 20°C; how-
2.1 ASTM Standards: ever, other temperatures may be used and noted.
D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water
6. Interferences
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water
6.1 The water sample must not contain any immiscible oil.
D 3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Con-
6.2 Generally, membrane filters contain a slight amount of
duits
leachable surfactants and wetting agents that might be a source
D 2652 Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon
of detectable error in waters having low concentrations of
D 2867 Test Method for Moisture in Activated Carbon
adsorbable constituents.
E 300 Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals
7. Apparatus
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-28 on Activated
7.1 Agitator, able to keep slurried activated carbon in
Carbon and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D28.02 on Liquid Phase
suspension.
Evaluation Tests.
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1998. Published December 1998. Originally
NOTE 1—A wrist-action shaker or a magnetic stirrer is suitable as an
e1
published as D 3860 – 79. Last previous edition D 3860 – 89a (1993) .
agitator.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.05.
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D 3860 – 98
7.2 Grinding mill, capable of grinding material so that 95 % 9.6 After 2 h, immediately filter each test and control
passes through a 325-mesh sieve. samples through separate new 0.40 to 0.45-μm membrane
7.3 Vacuum or pressure-filtration apparatus. filters.
7.4 Membrane filters, 0.40 to 0.45 μm.
NOTE 2—If the water sample contains volatile constituents, use pres-
7.5 Erlenmeyer flasks, glass stoppered, 500-mL and
sure filtration with nitrogen gas to reduce loss.
1000-mL capacity.
NOTE 3—It is recommended that each membrane filter be rinsed with
7.6 Analytical balance, capable of weighing to the nearest 500 mL of reagent grade Type II water (Specification D 1193) prior to
filtration.
0.1 mg.
7.7 Oven, forced-air circulation, capable of temperature
9.7 Immediately analyze the filtrates for the specific con-
regulation between 145 and 155°C.
stituent of interest and record the results along with the
7.8 Constant temperature water bath, capable of tempera-
corresponding carbon weight.
ture regulation of 20 6 1°C.
10. Calculation
7.9 Pipet, 100-mL.
10.1 Determine t
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