ASTM D3860-98(2014)

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

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This practice is used when activated carbon is considered as an adsorbent in treating water. Since both granular and powdered activated carbons are commercially available, a standard practice is needed to ensure that the activated carbons are evaluated under the same test conditions. Specified particle size carbon is to be used to ensure that the same test conditions are used. The practice is generally performed at 20°C; however, other temperatures may be used and noted.
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 activated or reactivated carbon.  
1.2 This practice is not recommended unless special precautions are taken to reduce loss during sample preparation and analysis.  
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 values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.5 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: 30-Jun-2014
• ICS: 71.060.10 - Chemical elements
• Technical Committee: D28 - Activated Carbon
• Drafting Committee: D28.02 - Liquid Phase Evaluation

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D3860-98(2008) - Standard Practice for Determination of Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon by Aqueous Phase Isotherm Technique
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2014
• Replaced By: ASTM D3860-98(2020) - Standard Practice for Determination of Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon by Aqueous Phase Isotherm Technique
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2020
• Referred By: ASTM D4607-14(2021) - Standard Test Method for Determination of Iodine Number of Activated Carbon
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2014

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: D3860 − 98 (Reapproved 2014)
Standard Practice for
Determination of Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon
by Aqueous Phase Isotherm Technique
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3860; 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 D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
1.1 This practice covers the determination of the adsorptive
D2652 Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon
capacityofactivatedcarbontoremoveundesirableconstituents
D2867 Test Methods for Moisture in Activated Carbon
from water and waste water. It can be used to evaluate the
E300 Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals
adsorptive capacity of activated or reactivated carbon.
1.2 This practice is not recommended unless special precau-
3. Terminology
tions are taken to reduce loss during sample preparation and
3.1 Definitions:
analysis.
3.1.1 Fordefinitionsoftermsusedinthispracticerelatingto
1.3 This practice is recommended to determine the adsorp-
activated carbon, refer to Terminology D2652.
tivecapacityofactivatedcarbonforthefollowingapplications,
3.1.2 For definition of terms used in this practice relating to
but is not limited to these applications:
water, refer to Terminology D1129.
1.3.1 Removal of color from dye mill waste water,
1.3.2 Removal of taste or odor constituents, or both, from
4. Summary of Practice
potable waters,
1.3.3 Removal of toxicants from water,
4.1 This practice consists of the determination of the ad-
1.3.4 Removal of surface active agents from water,
sorptive capacity of activated carbon for adsorbable constitu-
1.3.5 Removal of BOD from sanitary waste waters, and
5 ents by contacting the aqueous solution with activated carbon,
1.3.6 Removal of TOC from industrial waste waters.
determining the amount of the constituents removed, and
calculating the adsorptive capacity from a Freundlich isotherm
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
plot.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard. 4.1.1 Sample weights of activated carbon may have to be
adjusted, depending on the concentration of adsorbable con-
1.5 The following safety caveat applies to the procedure
stituents in the water.
section of this practice: This standard does not purport to
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its
5. Significance and Use
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
5.1 This practice is used when activated carbon is consid-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ered as an adsorbent in treating water. Since both granular and
powdered activated carbons are commercially available, a
2. Referenced Documents
standard practice is needed to ensure that the activated carbons
2.1 ASTM Standards: are evaluated under the same test conditions. Specified particle
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water size carbon is to be used to ensure that the same test conditions
are used. The practice is generally performed at 20°C;
however, other temperatures may be used and noted.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D28 on Activated
Carbon and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D28.02 on Liquid Phase
6. Interferences
Evaluation.
Current edition approved July 1, 2014. Published September 2014. Originally
6.1 The water sample must not contain any immiscible oil.
approved in 1979. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D3860 – 98 (2008).
DOI: 10.1520/D3860-98R14.
6.2 Generally, membrane filters contain a slight amount of
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
leachable surfactants and wetting agents that might be a source
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
of detectable error in waters having low concentrations of
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. adsorbable constituents.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D3860 − 98 (2014)
7. Apparatus 9.3 Add to the containers the appropriate amount of pulver-
ized activated carbon corrected to dry basis (Table 1) in regular
7.1 Agitator, able to keep slurried activated carbon in
intervals to allow time for filtration. Generally, a 5-min interval
suspension.
is adequate. Use one flask without activated carbon for a
NOTE 1—A wrist-action shaker or a magnetic stirrer is suitable as an
control sample.
agitator.
9.4 Aftertheadditionofeachactivatedcarbonsample,swirl
7.2 Grinding mill, capable of grinding material so that 95 %
the flask to wet the carbon. Stopper the flask and place on the
passes through a 325-mesh sieve.
agitator. Record the time.
7.3 Vacuum or pressure-filtration apparatus.
9.5 Allow each flask to shake or agitate for2hina water
7.4 Membrane filters, 0.40 to 0.45 µm.
bath at the desired temperature. Two hours contact time is
7.5 Erlenmeyer flasks, glass stoppered, 500-mL and normally sufficient to achieve steady state. However, a contact
1000-mL capacity.
time study should be performed to verify that steady state is
achieved (see 4.1).
7.6 Analytical balance, capable of weighing to the nearest
0.1 mg.
9.6 After 2 h, immediately filter each test and control
samples through separat
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D3860 − 98 (Reapproved 2008) D3860 − 98 (Reapproved 2014)
Standard Practice for
Determination of Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon
by Aqueous Phase Isotherm Technique
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3860; 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
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 activated or reactivated carbon.
1.2 This practice is not recommended unless special precautions are taken to reduce loss during sample preparation and analysis.
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 BOD from sanitary waste waters, and
1.3.6 Removal of TOC from industrial waste waters.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
D2652 Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon
D2867 Test Methods for Moisture in Activated Carbon
E300 Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice relating to activated carbon, refer to Terminology D2652.
3.1.2 For definition of terms used in this practice relating to water, refer to Terminology D1129.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 This practice consists of the determination of the adsorptive capacity of activated carbon for adsorbable constituents by
contacting the aqueous solution with activated carbon, determining the amount of the constituents removed, and calculating the
adsorptive capacity from a Freundlich isotherm plot.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D28 on Activated Carbon and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D28.02 on Liquid Phase Evaluation.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2008July 1, 2014. Published September 2008September 2014. Originally approved in 1979. Last previous edition approved in 20032008
as D3860 – 98 (2003).D3860 – 98 (2008). DOI: 10.1520/D3860-98R08.10.1520/D3860-98R14.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D3860 − 98 (2014)
4.1.1 Sample weights of activated carbon may have to be adjusted, depending on the concentration of adsorbable constituents
in the water.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This practice is used when activated carbon is considered as an adsorbent in treating water. Since both granular and
powdered activated carbons are commercially available, a standard practice is needed to ensure that the activated carbons are
evaluated under the same test conditions. Specified particle size carbon is to be used to ensure that the same test conditions are
used. The practice is generally performed at 20°C; however, other temperatures may be used and noted.
6. Interferences
6.1 The water sample must not contain any immiscible oil.
6.2 Generally, membrane filters contain a slight amount of leachable surfactants and wetting agents that might be a source of
detectable error in waters having low concentrations of adsorbable constituents.
7. Apparatus
7.1 Agitator, able to keep slurried activated carbon in suspension.
NOTE 1—A wrist-action shaker or a magnetic stirrer is suitable as an agitator.
7.2 Grinding mill, capable of grinding material so that 95 % passes through a 325-mesh sieve.
7.3 Vacuum or pressure-filtration apparatus.
7.4 Membrane filters, 0.40 to 0.45 μm.
7.5 Erlenmeyer flasks, glass stoppered, 500-mL and 1000-mL capacity.
7.6 Analytical balance, capable of weighing to the nearest 0.1 mg.
7.7 Oven, forced-air circulation, capable of temperature regulation between 145 and 155°C.
7.8 Constant temperature water bath, capable of temperature regulation of 20 6 1°C.
7.9 Pipet, 100-mL.
8. Sampling
8.1 Sample activated carbon that has been sampled according to Practice E300 and reduced in particle size so that 95 % passes
through a U.S. 325-mesh sieve by wet screening or equivalent, and oven-dried according to Test Method D2867 (3 hours (3 hours
at 150°C is usually sufficient).
8.2 Collect water samples in accordance with Practices D3370.
9. Procedure
9.1 Table 1
...