ASTM F716-18

Standard Test Methods for Sorbent Performance of Absorbents for Use on Chemical and Light Hydrocarbon Spills

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 These methods are to be used as a basis for comparison of absorbents in a consistent manner.  
5.2 These tests are not appropriate for adsorbent materials which are covered in Test Method F726.  
5.3 These methods are not useful for a comparison of absorbents with adsorbents, even though all absorbents exhibit adsorbent properties. Both types of materials have prime areas of utility.  
5.4 These methods may not list all the safety and disposal options necessary for safe ultimate disposal of used sorbent material into the environment. Federal, state, and local regulatory rules must be followed.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the development of laboratory test data that describe the performance of absorbent materials (and their retention ability) for use on chemical and light hydrocarbon spills.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.3 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. (For a specific warning statement see 10.4.)  
1.4 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: 31-Oct-2018
• ICS: 71.040.30 - Chemical reagents
• Technical Committee: F20 - Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response
• Drafting Committee: F20.22 - Mitigation Actions

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F716-09 - Standard Test Methods for Sorbent Performance of Absorbents (Withdrawn 2018)
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2018
• Refers: ASTM F726-17 - Standard Test Method for Sorbent Performance of Adsorbents for use on Crude Oil and Related Spills
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2017
• Refers: ASTM F726-12 - Standard Test Method for Sorbent Performance of Adsorbents
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2012
• Refers: ASTM F726-06 - Standard Test Method for Sorbent Performance of Adsorbents
• Effective Date: 01-May-2006
• Refers: ASTM F726-99 - Standard Test Method for Sorbent Performance of Adsorbents
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F1127-22 - Standard Guide for Containment of Hazardous Material Spills by Emergency Response Personnel
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2018

Overview

ASTM F716-18: Standard Test Methods for Sorbent Performance of Absorbents for Use on Chemical and Light Hydrocarbon Spills is an international standard published by ASTM International. This standard outlines laboratory methods for evaluating the performance of absorbent materials intended for chemical and light hydrocarbon spill response. Its primary purpose is to provide a consistent and comparative basis for testing absorbents, focusing on their ability to pick up, retain, and release various liquids in spill scenarios, supporting both environmental protection and operational efficiency.

Key Topics

• Scope of Testing
  The methods are designed exclusively for absorbent materials (not adsorbents), assessing how well they absorb and retain chemicals and light hydrocarbons.

• Material Types Covered

  • Absorbent materials (swell to absorb liquid throughout molecular structure)
  • Universal sorbents (absorb both hydrophobic and hydrophilic liquids)
  • Type I Absorbent (rolls, sheets, pads, blankets)
  • Type II Absorbent (loose particulate materials)

• Performance Evaluation Factors

  • Absorption capacity and effectiveness
  • Retention and release rates of absorbed materials
  • Physical characteristics (exposure durability, mildew resistance, flammability, and water resistance)
  • Penetration and containment efficiency

• Test Fluid Range

  • Chemical tests utilize a range of representative fluids, including low- and medium-viscosity hydrocarbons, polar solvents, and fluids with different densities to simulate realistic spill conditions.

• Safety and Regulation

  • The standard emphasizes adherence to federal, state, and local regulations.
  • Addresses the importance of safety, labeling, and proper disposal practices for used absorbents.

Applications

• Spill Response Planning
  Emergency responders, environmental engineers, and facility safety personnel use ASTM F716-18 to select absorbent products that are efficient and reliable for chemical and oil spill cleanup.

• Product Comparison and Certification
  Manufacturers, suppliers, and regulatory agencies employ these test methods to benchmark and certify absorbent materials, ensuring consistent performance claims and product safety.

• Environmental Compliance
  Industrial facilities, chemical plants, transportation hubs, and storage depots rely on F716-18 to meet regulations regarding spill preparedness and environmental protection.

• Material Development
  R&D teams utilize these methods during development and quality control of new absorbent technologies, supporting product innovation in spill management.

Related Standards

• ASTM F726: Test Method for Sorbent Performance of Adsorbents for Use on Crude Oil and Related Spills. This standard covers adsorbent materials, which are different from absorbents evaluated by F716-18.
• Fed. Std. No. 141a: Addresses paint and related materials, referenced for certain test apparatus and protocols in F716-18.
• Military Specification MIL-I-631D: Relates to synthetic resin insulation, referenced for mildew resistance testing.
• World Trade Organization TBT Principles: ASTM F716-18 aligns with international standardization requirements for trade and regulatory acceptance.

Keywords: absorbent performance testing, chemical spill absorbents, hydrocarbon spill response, ASTM F716-18, sorbent selection, spill cleanup standards, laboratory sorbent evaluation, environmental compliance, spill mitigation, universal sorbents, adsorption vs. absorption.

By adhering to ASTM F716-18, organizations can ensure their absorbent products and spill response protocols are aligned with industry best practices, supporting effective containment, remediation, and environmental stewardship.

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: F716 − 18
Standard Test Methods for
Sorbent Performance of Absorbents for Use on Chemical
and Light Hydrocarbon Spills
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF716;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2.3 Military Specification:
MIL-I-631D Insulation, Electric, Synthetic Resin
1.1 These test methods cover the development of laboratory
Composition, Nonrigid
test data that describe the performance of absorbent materials
(and their retention ability) for use on chemical and light
3. Terminology
hydrocarbon spills.
3.1 General Terminology:
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.1.1 gellant—a material such as a colloidal network or
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
other aggregate network that pervades and holds a liquid in a
standard.
highly viscous fragile structure. Many gels may rapidly liquefy
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
with added heat or ionic/polar addition. These materials are
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
soluble/flowable in excess liquid.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1.2 sorbent—an insoluble material or mixture of materials
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. used to recover liquids through the mechanisms of absorption
(For a specific warning statement see 10.4.) or adsorption, or both.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1.3 thickener—a material (usually of higher molecular
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
weight) that is soluble in excess liquid. These materials go
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
from dry to gummy (viscoelastic) to flowable and then soluble.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
The final viscosity depends only on the liquid to solid ratio.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1.4 universal sorbent—an insoluble material or mixture of
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
materials that will sorb both hydrophobic and hydrophilic
2. Referenced Documents
liquid spills.
2.1 ASTM Standards: 3.2 Definitions:
F726 Test Method for Sorbent Performance of Adsorbents
3.2.1 absorbent—a material that picks up and retains a
for use on Crude Oil and Related Spills
liquid distributed throughout its molecular structure causing
2.2 Federal Standard:
the solid to swell (50 % or more). The absorbent is at least
Fed. Std. No. 141a Paint, Varnish, Lacquer and Related
70 % insoluble in excess liquid.
Materials. Methods of Inspection, Sampling and Testing
3.2.2 adsorbent—an insoluble material that is coated by a
liquid on its surface including pores and capillaries without the
solid swelling more than 50 % in excess liquid.
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on
Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response and are the direct responsibility of
3.3 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Subcommittee F20.22 on Mitigation Actions.
3.3.1 oil—a substantially water immiscible organic liquid
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2018. Published February 2019. Originally
approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as F716 – 09 which was
that will float on water (density less than 1 g/cm ), typically
-3
withdrawn July 2018 and reinstated in November 2018. DOI: 10.1520/F0716-18.
with surface tension less than 40 x 10 .
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3.3.2 Type I absorbent (roll, film, sheet, pad, blanket,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
web)—a material with length and width much greater than
the ASTM website.
3 thickness and which has both linear form and strength suffi-
Available from DLA Document Services, Building 4/D, 700 Robbins Ave.,
Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, http://quicksearch.dla.mil. cient to be handled either saturated or unsaturated.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F716 − 18
3.3.3 Type II absorbent (loose)—an unconsolidated, particu- 7.1.2 Actual outdoor exposure for a period of three months
late material without sufficient form and strength to be handled at a testing site should be listed.
except with scoops and similar equipment.
7.2 Tension Tester—Commercially available tester (op-
tional).
4. Summary of Method
7.2.1 Use of actual weights suspended from test pieces in
4.1 The absorbent material is tested using established stan-
turn suspended from a continuous reading hanging scale may
dard methods, where applicable, and specially developed tests
be used. Shock loading may be simulated by fastening one end
for performance factors.
of a unit rigidly and attaching the maximum pickup weight to
the bottom end hanging free. The weight can be raised 2.5 cm
5. Significance and Use
and released and also 10 cm and again released. This test
should be recorded as pass or fail.
5.1 These methods are to be used as a basis for comparison
of absorbents in a consistent manner.
7.3 Continuous Reading Hanging Scales—A continuous
reading hanging scale fitted with a hook or clamp should be
5.2 These tests are not appropriate for adsorbent materials
used. For testing units, weighing sensitivity shall be 62 %. For
which are covered in Test Method F726.
small samples, postal-type scales may be used (0 to 80 g).
5.3 These methods are not useful for a comparison of
absorbents with adsorbents, even though all absorbents exhibit 7.4 Top Loading Balance, having 0.5-g resolution for
adsorbent properties. Both types of materials have prime areas samples weighing at minimum 50 g or more. An accuracy of
of utility. 2 % is desired.
5.4 These methods may not list all the safety and disposal
7.5 Measuring Tubes—10 and 100-mLgraduated measuring
options necessary for safe ultimate disposal of used sorbent
cylinders of regular laboratory quality.
material into the environment. Federal, state, and local regu-
7.6 Paper Towels, for removing excess liquid from the
latory rules must be followed.
absorbent.
6. Special Considerations 7.7 Oven-Dried Mason Sand, for use in checking rate of
release. Screen analysis is desired. Optionally, known screen
6.1 Solubility—Fluid should not dissolve the absorbent un-
size silica sand can be used.
der normal recovery or handling conditions.
6.2 Reuse—Used absorbent materials may be recycled un-
8. Test Fluids
der certain conditions. Fluid absorbed cannot be released with
8.1 Test fluids may be used for general testing, although the
squeezing. However, many of the polymeric materials will
actual fluid should be used where possible.
depolymerize at temperatures at or below those in a refinery
pipe still. This means they are recoverable, although in a
8.2 Low-Viscosity Materials—For low-viscosity material
different form.Along with resource recovery, the harvestability
(like gasoline), use xylene which has a higher flash point. (For
of sorbents will become more important. Lower boiling mate-
safety, a solution containing 10 % methylene chloride can be
rials may also be steam stripped from absorbents to recover
added to aid in raising flash point.)
both fluid and absorbent.
8.3 Polar Solvents—For polar solvents, use methylisobu-
6.3 Release of Volatiles—Certain volatile materials picked
tylketone (hexone), butylacetate, and so forth.
up by sorbents may create a vapor hazard by increasing the
8.4 Medium-Viscosity Fluids—For medium-viscosity fluids,
exposed surface area and therefore vapor release. Depending
No. 2 fuel oil, diesel fuel, JP-5, Jet A-1 (turbine fuel), or light
on the material picked up, this may increase fire or health
crude oil (for example, light Arabian or Iranian crude), is
hazard (see 10.4).
recommended.
6.4 Release to an Alternative Material Such as Sand—The
8.5 High-Viscosity Fluids—Nondetergent or C-10 Trans-
tendency to release sorbed liquid to beaches, ground, clothing
former dielectric oil (specify manufacturer and viscosity) is
of personnel, and so forth, both as liquid and vapor can be
recommended.
determined on a basis of priority (see 11.5).
8.6 Range Finding Fluids—Ethanol (95 %), acetone, ethyl-
6.5 Penetration—Absorbents may be useful as sealing de-
ene glycol, cyclohexane, 2-nitropropane are suitable fluids.
vices and the penetration test will allow a uniform means of
determining the efficacy of a material for this use.
9. Conditioning
7. Apparatus
9.1 Condition three absorbent test specimens at room tem-
7.1 Exterior Exposure Tester, sufficient for use with Fed. perature (21 to 26 °C) (70 to 80 °F) in a closed vessel with 2.5
Std. No. 141a, Method 6152 (optional). cm of water in the bottom. Suspend specimens in vapor space
7.1.1 Actual outdoor exposure in a direction averaging the without contacting water for not less than 24 h prior to testing.
maximum exposure in a sunny area, such as Southern Florida Condition specimens in the fully exposed state with no
or Arizona, is desired. Exposure should be listed in months coverings or wrapping that would hinder the equilibration
with total sun days. process.
F716 − 18
9.2 Condition three absorbent test specimens totally im- special fluids to be absorbed. Good practice requires triplicate
mersed in water at room temperature (21 to 26 °C) (70 to testing with results reported as the average.
80 °F) in a vessel with a minimum of 10 cm of water covering 11.1.2 For all tests, without exception, the fabricated mate-
the absorbent for not less than 24 h prior to testing. Condition rials or units must remain handleable (without tearing) at the
specimens in the fully exposed state with no coverings or maximum pickup rate reported while being held by a corner of
wrapping which would hinder the equilibration process. the unit.
11.2 Oily Material Absorption (Typically Type II
9.3 Alternative Temperatures—If temperature conditions
other than room temperature are expected to be important, then Absorbent)—This test provides a simple method of comparing
the absorbing material’s inherent capacity to absorb various
the sorbent should be conditioned and tested at the temperature
of use in addition to those specified in 9.1 and 9.2. fluids as well as compare ultimate capacity to do so. This test
is run with an excess of fluid.
11.2.1 In a 10-mL graduated cylinder, place 2 mL of
10. Determination of Physical Characteristics of
absorbent and weigh to determine the weight of absorbent.
Absorbents
Place the 2 mLof absorbent into a 100-mLgraduated cylinder.
10.1 Mildew—The susceptibility of an absorbent to mildew
Add 50 mL of fluid to be tested, record level, then cap with a
under normal storage is described in MIL-I-631D. This op-
foil (aluminum or plastic)-wrapped cork or stopper.Agitate for
tional test determines the expected shelf life under conditions
short periods with a glass stirring rod. If at the end of 2 h there
which could lead to mildew. This test may be required when it
isstillfreeliquidontopoftheswollenabsorbentorunderneath
is believed that this condition may exist prior to an emergency.
if the fluid has a density greater than the absorbent, place a
10.2 Exterior Exposure—This optional test may be per- piece of 200-mesh screen (just slightly smaller than the inside
formed in accordance with Fed. Std. No. 141a, Method 6152.
diameter of the cylinder with at least four centering wires bent
Actual exposure in area of use for one month is preferable. up at 90°) in the fluid to sit on top of the absorbent. Record the
Long-term testing is not necessary for materials that are to be
level of the swollen absorbent. If the fluid is much more dense
use
...