ASTM D5742-16

Standard Test Method for Determination of Butane Activity of Activated Carbon

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The butane activity as determined by this test method is a measure of the ability of an activated carbon to adsorb butane from dry air under specified conditions. It is useful for the quality control and evaluation of granular activated carbons. The butane activity is an indication of the micropore volume of the activated carbon sample. This activity number does not necessarily provide an absolute or relative measure of the effectiveness of the tested carbon for other adsorbates or at other conditions of operation.  
5.2 The butane activity test can be used as a non-ozone depleting substitute for the carbon tetrachloride activity test in Test Method D3467. Fig. 1 shows an experimental correlation of activity values obtained using the two adsorbates.  
Note 1: This test has not been designed for use with powdered activated carbon, but it has been used successfully when the flow rate or time are adjusted or the sample volume is decreased to keep the pressure drop at an acceptable value.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers determination of the activation level of activated carbon. Butane activity (BA) is defined herein as the ratio (in percent) of the mass of butane adsorbed by an activated carbon sample to the mass of the sample, when the carbon is saturated with butane under the conditions listed in this test method.  
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific warning statement, see 7.1.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2016
• ICS: 71.040.30 - Chemical reagents
• Technical Committee: D28 - Activated Carbon
• Drafting Committee: D28.04 - Gas Phase Evaluation Tests

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D5742-95(2015) - Standard Test Method for Determination of Butane Activity of Activated Carbon
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2016
• Refers: ASTM D2854-09(2014) - Standard Test Method for Apparent Density of Activated Carbon
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2014
• Refers: ASTM D3467-04(2014) - Standard Test Method for Carbon Tetrachloride Activity of Activated Carbon
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2014
• Refers: ASTM E177-14 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-May-2014
• Refers: ASTM E177-13 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Refers: ASTM E691-13 - Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Refers: ASTM E691-11 - Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2011
• Refers: ASTM D2652-11 - Standard Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2011
• Refers: ASTM E177-10 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2010
• Refers: ASTM D2867-09 - Standard Test Methods for Moisture in Activated Carbon
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2009
• Refers: ASTM D2854-09 - Standard Test Method for Apparent Density of Activated Carbon
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2009
• Refers: ASTM D3467-04(2009) - Standard Test Method for Carbon Tetrachloride Activity of Activated Carbon
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2009
• Refers: ASTM E177-08 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM E691-08 - Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM E177-06b - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2006

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: D5742 − 16
Standard Test Method for
1
Determination of Butane Activity of Activated Carbon
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5742; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions— For definitions of terms used in this test
1.1 This test method covers determination of the activation
method, refer to Terminology D2652.
level of activated carbon. Butane activity (BA) is defined
herein as the ratio (in percent) of the mass of butane adsorbed
4. Summary of Test Method
byanactivatedcarbonsampletothemassofthesample,when
4.1 An activated carbon bed of known volume and mass is
the carbon is saturated with butane under the conditions listed
saturatedwithbutanevapor.Themassadsorbedatsaturationis
in this test method.
noted and reported as mass of butane per unit mass of carbon.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
5. Significance and Use
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
5.1 The butane activity as determined by this test method is
standard.
ameasureoftheabilityofanactivatedcarbontoadsorbbutane
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
from dry air under specified conditions. It is useful for the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
quality control and evaluation of granular activated carbons.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Thebutaneactivityisanindicationofthemicroporevolumeof
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
the activated carbon sample. This activity number does not
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific
necessarily provide an absolute or relative measure of the
warning statement, see 7.1. effectiveness of the tested carbon for other adsorbates or at
other conditions of operation.
2. Referenced Documents
5.2 The butane activity test can be used as a non-ozone
2
depleting substitute for the carbon tetrachloride activity test in
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Test Method D3467. Fig. 1 shows an experimental correlation
D2652Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon
of activity values obtained using the two adsorbates.
D2854Test Method for Apparent Density of Activated
Carbon NOTE 1—This test has not been designed for use with powdered
activated carbon, but it has been used successfully when the flow rate or
D2867Test Methods for Moisture in Activated Carbon
time are adjusted or the sample volume is decreased to keep the pressure
D3195Practice for Rotameter Calibration
drop at an acceptable value.
D3467Test Method for Carbon Tetrachloride Activity of
6. Apparatus
Activated Carbon
E177Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
6.1 Water Bath, capable of maintaining a temperature of 25
ASTM Test Methods
60.2°Candofsufficientdepthsothattheentirecarbonbedin
E300Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals
the sample tube is immersed in the water.
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
6.2 Sample Tube, with the options shown in Fig. 2.
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
6.3 Flowmeter, capable of delivering butane at 0 to 500
mL/min, calibrated in accordance with Practice D3195.
6.4 Balance, capable of weighing to within 60.01 g.
1
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
6.5 Fill Device—The vibration feed device used in Test
Phase Evaluation Tests.
Method D2854.
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2016.PublishedJuly2016.Originallyapproved
in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D5742–95 (2015). DOI:
6.6 Apparatus Assembly, shown in Fig. 3.
10.1520/D5742-16.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
7. Reagents
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
7.1 n-Butane, C. P. Grade. (Warning—Butane is a flam-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. mable gas with a flash point of −138°C and a boiling point of
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5742 − 16
FIG. 1 Butane Versus Carbon Tetrachloride Correlation
0.5°C. Its specific gravity is 2.046 relative to air. Butane may 10.2 DeterminetheapparentdensityinaccordancewithTest
be narcotic in high concentrations and i
...

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: D5742 − 95 (Reapproved 2015) D5742 − 16
Standard Test Method for
1
Determination of Butane Activity of Activated Carbon
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5742; 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 test method covers determination of the activation level of activated carbon. Butane activity (BA) is defined herein as
the ratio (in percent) of the mass of butane adsorbed by an activated carbon sample to the mass of the sample, when the carbon
is saturated with butane under the conditions listed in this test method.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For a specific warning statement, see 7.1.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D2652 Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon
D2854 Test Method for Apparent Density of Activated Carbon
D2867 Test Methods for Moisture in Activated Carbon
D3195 Practice for Rotameter Calibration
D3467 Test Method for Carbon Tetrachloride Activity of Activated Carbon
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E300 Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions— For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology D2652.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 An activated carbon bed of known volume and mass is saturated with butane vapor. The mass adsorbed at saturation is noted
and reported as mass of butane per unit mass of carbon.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The butane activity as determined by this test method is a measure of the ability of an activated carbon to adsorb butane
from dry air under specified conditions. It is useful for the quality control and evaluation of granular activated carbons. The butane
activity is an indication of the micropore volume of the activated carbon sample. This activity number does not necessarily provide
an absolute or relative measure of the effectiveness of the tested carbon for other adsorbates or at other conditions of operation.
5.2 The butane activity test can be used as a non-ozone depleting substitute for the carbon tetrachloride activity test in Test
Method D3467. Fig. 1 shows an experimental correlation of activity values obtained using the two adsorbates.
NOTE 1—This test has not been designed for use with powdered activated carbon, but it has been used successfully when the flow rate or time are
adjusted or the sample volume is decreased to keep the pressure drop at an acceptable value.
1
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 Phase
Evaluation Tests.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2015June 1, 2016. Published October 2015July 2016. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 20102015 as
D5742 – 95 (2010).(2015). DOI: 10.1520/D5742-95R15.10.1520/D5742-16.
2
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
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5742 − 16
FIG. 1 Butane Versus Carbon Tetrachloride Correlation
6. Apparatus
6.1 Water Bath, capable of maintaining a temperature of 25 6 0.2°C and of sufficient depth so that the entire carbon bed in the
sample tube is immersed in the water.
6.2 Sample Tube, with the options shown in Fig. 2.
6.3 Flowmeter, capable of delivering butane at 0 to 500 mL/min, calibrated in accordance with Practice D3195.
6.4 Balance, capable of weighing to within 60.01 g.
6.5 Fill Device—The vibration feed device used in Test Method D2854.
6.6 Apparatus Assembly, shown in Fig. 3.
7. Re
...