ASTM D5003/D5003M-23

Standard Test Method for Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) of Petroleum Coke

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The HGI is used to predict the ranking of raw petroleum cokes or calcined petroleum cokes in industrial size mills used for crushing operations. The rankings are based on energy required and feed rate or both.  
5.2 The HGI is also used to select raw petroleum cokes and coals that are compatible with each other when milled together in a blend so that segregation of the blend does not occur during particle size reduction.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the hardgrove grindability index (HGI) of those petroleum cokes that contain no dedusting additive. The procedure for this test method is the same as in Test Method D409. Sections of this test method contain the significance and use of the HGI of petroleum coke, preliminary sample preparation procedures, and procedure and precision and bias data specific to petroleum coke.  
Note 1: The size consistency (particle size distribution) of fluid petroleum coke is generally 100 % passing a 6.7 mm [0.265 in.] sieve and greater than 80 % passing a 2 mm [No. 10] sieve. Much of fluid cokes will pass a 600 μm [No. 30] sieve. Because of this fineness the HGI value is related to the coarser particles in fluid coke and large samples are required to prepare sufficient material of the correct particle size for Test Method D409.  
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.  
1.2.1 Exception—Hardgrove grindability index is unitless.  
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.  
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-2023
• ICS: 75.160.10 - Solid fuels
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.05 - Properties of Fuels, Petroleum Coke and Carbon Material

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D5003-19 - Standard Test Method for Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) of Petroleum Coke
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Refers: ASTM D4175-23a - Standard Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Effective Date: 15-Dec-2023
• Refers: ASTM D4175-23e1 - Standard Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2023

Overview

ASTM D5003/D5003M-23 is the Standard Test Method for Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) of Petroleum Coke, developed by ASTM International. This standard outlines the procedure for determining the HGI of petroleum cokes that contain no dedusting additive, enabling consistent evaluation of petroleum coke grindability across the energy, metallurgy, and chemical industries. The method is closely aligned with ASTM D409, which is used for coal, ensuring compatibility of data for comparison and blending purposes.

The HGI test provides essential information on the ease of grinding petroleum coke, influencing industrial equipment selection, energy requirements, and operational efficiency.

Key Topics

• Purpose of HGI: The Hardgrove Grindability Index measures the relative ease of pulverizing petroleum coke in comparison with coal standards. A higher HGI indicates easier grinding.
• Test Materials: Applicable to both raw and calcined petroleum cokes that are free from dedusting agents.
• Sampling and Preparation: Samples must be properly prepared and dedusting agent, if present, removed before testing. The protocol references methods for collecting representative petroleum coke samples and outlines procedures for solvent removal.
• Procedure Overview:
  • Petroleum coke is ground to specific size fractions.
  • Ground material is processed using the Hardgrove machine.
  • The amount retained on a specified sieve is used to calculate the HGI value.
• Measurement Units: Allows for reporting in both SI and inch-pound units, but these must not be mixed.
• Safety Considerations: Users must implement appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices, particularly regarding solvents and potential dust hazards.

Applications

The ASTM D5003/D5003M-23 standard is widely adopted in industries that handle petroleum coke and require precise information on material behavior during size reduction. Key applications include:

• Coke Blending and Compatibility: Assists in selecting and blending raw petroleum cokes and coals, ensuring uniform size reduction and minimizing blend segregation.
• Mill Performance Prediction: Provides critical data for ranking petroleum cokes based on required energy input and feed rates for industrial mills, supporting the design and optimization of crushing operations.
• Quality Control: Enables storage, transport, and handling strategies based on consistent grindability indices, ensuring efficient process flows in fuel manufacturing, power plants, and metallurgical processes.
• Equipment Selection: Informs procurement of grinding and milling equipment suited to the specific grindability characteristics of a petroleum coke batch.

Related Standards

Several ASTM standards complement and support the application of ASTM D5003/D5003M-23 for petroleum coke testing:

• ASTM D409 – Standard Test Method for Grindability of Coal by the Hardgrove-Machine Method
• ASTM D2013 – Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Analysis
• ASTM D4057 – Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
• ASTM D4175 – Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• ASTM D4930 – Test Method for Dust Control Material on Calcined Petroleum Coke
• ASTM D6970 – Practice for Collection of Calcined Petroleum Coke Samples for Analysis
• ASTM D8145 – Practice for Sampling of Green Petroleum Coke

Implementing ASTM D5003/D5003M-23 ensures that petroleum coke testing aligns with international best practices, enabling reliable quality control and optimizing fuel blending strategies in industrial environments. Use of this standard supports regulatory compliance, supply chain efficiency, and product performance consistency in applications relying on grindability data for petroleum coke.

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: D5003/D5003M − 23
Standard Test Method for
Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) of Petroleum Coke
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5003/D5003M; 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.
INTRODUCTION
Introduction of petroleum coke into the coal market in recent years has necessitated the use of many
of the test methods for coal so like data would be available for comparison and blending purposes. Test
Method D409 does not cover petroleum coke in its scope and its statements of precision and bias do
not include petroleum coke. This test method provides the procedures and precision and bias data for
the hardgrove grindability index (HGI) of petroleum coke. Use of this test method or Test Method
D409 produces the same value for the sample of petroleum coke being analyzed.
1. Scope* 1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the hard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
grove grindability index (HGI) of those petroleum cokes that
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
contain no dedusting additive. The procedure for this test
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
method is the same as in Test Method D409. Sections of this
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
test method contain the significance and use of the HGI of
petroleum coke, preliminary sample preparation procedures,
2. Referenced Documents
and procedure and precision and bias data specific to petroleum
coke.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D409 Test Method for Grindability of Coal by the
NOTE 1—The size consistency (particle size distribution) of fluid
Hardgrove-Machine Method
petroleum coke is generally 100 % passing a 6.7 mm [0.265 in.] sieve and
D2013 Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Analysis
greater than 80 % passing a 2 mm [No. 10] sieve. Much of fluid cokes will
pass a 600 μm [No. 30] sieve. Because of this fineness the HGI value is
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
related to the coarser particles in fluid coke and large samples are required
Petroleum Products
to prepare sufficient material of the correct particle size for Test Method
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid
D409.
Fuels, and Lubricants
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
D4930 Test Method for Dust Control Material on Calcined
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
Petroleum Coke
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
D6970 Practice for Collection of Calcined Petroleum Coke
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
Samples for Analysis
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
D8145 Practice for Sampling of Green Petroleum Coke
with the standard.
1.2.1 Exception—Hardgrove grindability index is unitless.
3. Terminology
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1 Definitions:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
to Terminology D4175.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1.2 calcined petroleum coke, n—petroleum coke that has
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
been thermally treated to drive off the volatile matter and to
develop crystalline structure.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D02.05 on Properties of Fuels, Petroleum Coke and Carbon Material. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2023. Published December 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as D5003 – 19. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D5003-23. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D5003/D5003M − 23
3.1.3 fluid coke, n—petroleum coke with a granular, micro- 7. Sampling and Sample Preparation
scopic layered structure resulting from injection of petroleum
7.1 Collect a gross sample of petroleum coke or calcined
feedstock into a flowing, loose bed of coke particles.
coke, representative of the material from which it is taken. The
3.1.4 Hardgrove Grindability Index, HGI, unitless, n—in
sample may be collected, in accordance with Practice D4057 or
petroleum coke technology, measurement of the relative ease of
D8145, and prepared in accordance with Practice D2013 and
pulverizing a raw petroleum coke or green petroleum coke in
Section 6 of Test Method D409.
comparison with coal standards. The higher the HGI value, the
7.2 When a dedusting agent is present remove it in the
easier the petroleum coke is to grind.
manner required by the supplier of the calcined petroleum
3.1.5 petroleum coke, n—solid, carbonaceous residue pro-
coke. The supplier knows what the added agent is, and should
duced by thermal decomposition of heavy petroleum fractions
best know how to remove it. See Tes
...

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: D5003 − 19 D5003/D5003M − 23
Standard Test Method for
Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) of Petroleum Coke
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5003;D5003/D5003M; 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.
INTRODUCTION
Introduction of petroleum coke into the coal market in recent years has necessitated the use of many
of the test methods for coal so like data would be available for comparison and blending purposes. Test
Method D409 does not cover petroleum coke in its scope and its statements of precision and bias do
not include petroleum coke. This test method provides the procedures and precision and bias data for
the hardgrove grindability index (HGI) of petroleum coke. Use of this test method or Test Method
D409 produces the same value for the sample of petroleum coke being analyzed.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the hardgrove grindability index (HGI) of those petroleum cokes that contain no
dedusting additive. The procedure for this test method is the same as in Test Method D409. Sections of this test method contain
the significance and use of the HGI of petroleum coke, preliminary sample preparation procedures, and procedure and precision
and bias data specific to petroleum coke.
NOTE 1—The size consistency (particle size distribution) of fluid petroleum coke is generally 100 % passing a 6.73 mm (No. 3) 6.7 mm [0.265 in.] sieve
and greater than 80 % passing a 2.00 mm (No. 10)2 mm [No. 10] sieve. Much of fluid cokes will pass a 0.59 mm (No. 30)600 μm [No. 30] sieve. Because
of this fineness the HGI value is related to the coarser particles in fluid coke and large samples are required to prepare sufficient material of the correct
particle size for Test Method D409.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are
included in this separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall
be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.2.1 Exception—Hardgrove grindability index is unitless.
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.
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.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.05 on Properties of Fuels, Petroleum Coke and Carbon Material.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2019Nov. 1, 2023. Published January 2019December 2023. Originally approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 20182019
as D5003 – 18.D5003 – 19. DOI: 10.1520/D5003-19.10.1520/D5003-23.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D5003/D5003M − 23
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D409 Test Method for Grindability of Coal by the Hardgrove-Machine Method
D2013 Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Analysis
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
D4930 Test Method for Dust Control Material on Calcined Petroleum Coke
D6970 Practice for Collection of Calcined Petroleum Coke Samples for Analysis
D8145 Practice for Sampling of Green Petroleum Coke
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology D4175.
3.1.2 calcined petroleum coke, n—petroleum coke that has been thermally treated to drive off the volatile matter and to develop
crystalline structure.
3.1.3 fluid coke, n—petroleum coke with a granular, microscopic layered structure resulting from injection of petroleum feedstock
into a flowing, loose bed of coke particles.
3.1.4 Hardgrove Grindability Index, HGI, unitless, n—in petroleum coke technology, measurement of the relative ease of
pulverizing a raw petroleum coke or green petroleum coke in comparison with coal standards. The higher the HGI value, the easier
the petroleum coke is to grind.
3.1.5 petroleum coke, n—solid, carbonaceous residue produced by thermal decomposition of heavy petroleum fractions or cracked
stocks, or both.
3.1.6 raw petroleum coke, n—petroleum coke that has not been calcined.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 The sample of petroleum coke is reduced (crushed) to produce a high yield of particles passing a 1.19 mm (No. 16)1.18 mm
[No. 16] sieve and retained on a 0.59 mm (No. 30)600 μm [No. 30] sieve. These particles are reduced in the hardgrove grindability
machine according to Test Method D409. The quantity of particles retained on a 0.074 mm (No. 200)75 μm [No. 200] sieve is used
to calculate the HGI of the sample.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The HGI is used to predict the ranking of raw petroleum cokes or calcined petroleum cokes in industrial size mills used for
crushing operations. The rankings are based on energy required and feed rate or both.
5.2 The HGI is also used to select raw petroleum cokes and coals that are compatible with each other when milled together in a
blend so that segregation of the blend does not occur during particle size reduction.
6. Hazards
6.1 Calcined petroleum coke is generally coated with a dedusting agent to decrease the occurrence and the quantity of dust during
subse
...