prEN 12903

• Abstract:

  This European Standard is applicable to powdered activated carbon used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics of powdered activated carbon and specifies the requirements and the corresponding test methods for powdered activated carbon. It gives information on its use in water treatment.

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 09-Dec-2027
• ICS: 71.100.80 - Chemicals for purification of water
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 164 - Water supply
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 164/WG 9 - Drinking water treatment
• Current Stage: 4020 - Submission to enquiry - Enquiry
• Start Date: 08-Oct-2026
• Due Date: 27-Aug-2026
• Completion Date: 08-Oct-2026
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 12903:2026 - Products used for the treatment of water intended for human consumption - Powdered activated carbon

• Revises: EN 12903:2009 - Products used for the treatment of water intended for human consumption - Powdered activated carbon
• Effective Date: 29-Jun-2022

prEN 12903 is a CEN draft European Standard for powdered activated carbon used in the treatment of water intended for human consumption. It specifies the product characteristics, the requirements to check, and the test methods to use, for manufacturers, suppliers, laboratories, water-treatment operators, and buyers.

What does prEN 12903 specify?

prEN 12903 applies to powdered activated carbon for treating water intended for human consumption. It covers how the product is described, which physical and chemical properties it shall meet, how those properties are tested, and how the product is labelled, transported, and stored.

The document is organized into scope, normative references, terms and definitions, description, physical properties, chemical properties, specific properties, test methods, and labelling/transport/storage. Annex A gives general information on powdered activated carbon.

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	General information on powdered activated carbon, including origin, properties, use, handling, and emergency advice

What are the key requirements of prEN 12903?

prEN 12903 sets out the main product checks for powdered activated carbon used in drinking water treatment. In practice, these are the characteristics a manufacturer must declare and the properties a buyer or laboratory should verify.

Product identity and form

Clause 4 identifies the product as either Activated Carbon - High Density Skeleton or Activated Carbon - Low Density Skeleton. It also gives the common names, chemical formula, CAS Registry Number, and EINECS references. The commercial form is a powder with grades that differ in adsorption, porosity, particle size, and purity, so users need to match the grade to the treatment task.

Physical properties

Clause 5 describes the appearance as a black powder and sets a particle size expectation: at least 95 % by mass shall be below 150 µm, while the full particle size distribution shall remain within the manufacturer’s declared values. Oversize and undersize particles also have to stay within declared values. Tapped density shall comply with the manufacturer’s declared values, which matters because density affects dosing, transport, and handling.

Chemical purity

Clause 6 requires the raw materials to be stated by the manufacturer and sets purity criteria for common impurities and by-products. Table 1 covers ash, water at packing, water-soluble material, and zinc, with the zinc limit applying only to activated carbons made with ZnCl2. Table 2 covers water-extractable substances, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, selenium, cyanide, PAH, and aluminium, with aluminium reported as a typical value rather than limited. This tells users what may migrate into treated water and what to check against local water-quality rules.

Adsorption performance

Clause 7 gives the iodine number as the specific property used here, with a minimum of 600 mg/g. That value acts as a practical indicator of adsorption capacity, so it helps users compare products for contaminant removal, even though some applications may accept lower values.

Sampling and testing

Clause 8 states that conformity assessment samples shall come from the production site. Samples taken at delivery or from a filter are not valid for this purpose because transport and handling can change the material. Clause 8 also directs most analyses to EN 12902, including particle size distribution, tapped density, ash, water content, water-soluble material, zinc, water-extractable substances, and iodine number.

Delivery, marking, and storage

Clause 9 covers sacks, FIBC bags, drums, boxes, and bulk delivery, and requires clean or dedicated delivery equipment so product purity is not affected. Marking shall identify the product, grade, net mass, supplier or manufacturer, and conformity with EN 12903. The product shall be kept dry and away from oxidants, volatile solvents, and moisture.

What terms does prEN 12903 define?

prEN 12903 defines the two activated carbon types used in the standard and the main performance terms that control specification and testing.

• Activated Carbon - High Density Skeleton - activated carbon made by charring and activation with steam or other gases.
• Activated Carbon - Low Density Skeleton - activated carbon made by charring and activation with chemical activation agents such as phosphoric acid.
• PAC - the common abbreviation for powdered activated carbon.
• Tapped density - the density measured after tapping, used to describe how the powder packs and behaves in handling.
• Iodine number - an adsorption index used here as the specific property for product performance.
• Water-extractable substances - substances that can leach from the carbon into water and therefore need control.

Who uses prEN 12903?

prEN 12903 is used by manufacturers and suppliers of powdered activated carbon, water-treatment utilities, laboratories, and buyers specifying product quality. It is also relevant to quality managers and compliance teams who need a consistent basis for product acceptance, sampling, labelling, and storage in drinking water treatment.

What changed in prEN 12903 from the previous edition?

prEN 12903 is set to supersede EN 12903:2009. The foreword states these technical changes:

• the term bulk density packed was replaced by tapped density
• the zinc limit applies only to activated carbons manufactured with ZnCl2
• aluminium was added as a water-extractable substance, with a typical value to be reported
• editorial changes were made to align the text with other standards in the series

Which standards are used with prEN 12903?

prEN 12903 relies on two normative references:

• EN 12901 - provides the terms and definitions used for products used in treatment of water intended for human consumption.
• EN 12902 - provides the test methods used for this product, including the sampling and analytical procedures named in Clause 8.

What does the prEN 12903 document contain?

prEN 12903 contains product identification details, physical-property requirements, chemical purity criteria, and a specific adsorption index based on iodine number. It also contains a test section that points most analyses to EN 12902, which is important for consistent quality control and conformity assessment.

The document includes tables for main impurities and by-products, and for water-extractable substances. It also includes an informative annex with background on raw materials, manufacturing routes, adsorption properties, typical use in water treatment, safe handling, and emergency actions.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2026
Izdelki, ki se uporabljajo za pripravo pitne vode - Aktivno oglje v prahu
Products used for the treatment of water intended for human consumption - Powdered
activated carbon
Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch - Pulver-
Aktivkohle
Produits utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau destinée à la consommation humaine -
Charbon actif en poudre
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 12903
ICS:
13.060.20 Pitna voda Drinking water
71.100.80 Kemikalije za čiščenje vode Chemicals for purification of
water
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2026
ICS Will supersede EN 12903:2009
English Version
Products used for the treatment of water intended for
human consumption - Powdered activated carbon
Produits utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau destinée à Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den
la consommation humaine - Charbon actif en poudre menschlichen Gebrauch - Pulver-Aktivkohle
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 164.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 12903:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 4
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Description . 6
4.1 Identification . 6
4.1.1 Chemical name(s) . 6
4.1.2 Synonym or common names . 6
4.1.3 Chemical formula . 6
4.1.4 CAS Registry Number . 7
4.1.5 EINECS reference . 7
4.2 Commercial form . 7
5 Physical properties . 7
5.1 Appearance . 7
5.2 Particle size distribution . 7
5.2.1 Particle size . 7
5.2.2 Oversize and undersize particles . 7
5.3 Tapped density . 7
6 Chemical properties . 7
6.1 General. 7
6.2 Purity criteria . 8
6.2.1 General. 8
6.2.2 Impurities and main by-products . 8
6.2.3 Water-extractable substances. 8
7 Specific properties . 9
8 Test methods . 9
8.1 Sampling . 9
8.2 Analysis . 9
8.2.1 Particle size distribution . 9
8.2.2 Tapped density . 9
8.2.3 Ash . 9
8.2.4 Water content . 10
8.2.5 Water-soluble material . 10
8.2.6 Content of zinc . 10
8.2.7 Water-extractable substances. 10
8.2.8 Iodine number . 10
9 Labelling, transportation and storage. 10
9.1 Means of delivery . 10
9.2 Risk and safety labelling according to the EU directives . 10
9.3 Transportation regulations and labelling . 10
9.4 Marking . 11
9.5 Storage . 11
9.5.1 Long term stability . 11
9.5.2 Storage incompatibilities . 11
Annex A (informative) General information on powdered activated carbon . 12
Bibliography . 15

European foreword
This document (prEN 12903:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 164 “Water
supply”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 12903:2009.
— the term bulk density packed replaced by tapped density;
— zinc limit only applicable for activated carbons manufactured with ZnCl2;
— aluminium added as a water-extractable substance with typical value to be reported;
— editorial to harmonize the text with other standards in this series.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
Introduction
In respect of potential adverse effects on the quality of water intended for human consumption, caused
by the product covered by this document:
a) this document provides no information as to whether the product may be used without restriction
in any of the Member States of the EU or EFTA;
b) it should be noted that, while awaiting the adoption of verifiable European criteria, existing national
regulations concerning the use and/or the characteristics of this product remain in force.
NOTE Conformity with this document does not confer or imply acceptance or approval of the product in any
of the Member States of the EU or EFTA. The use of the product covered by this document is subject to regulation
or control by National Authorities.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
1 Scope
This document is applicable to powdered activated carbon used for treatment of water intended for
human consumption. It describes the characteristics of powdered activated carbon and specifies the
requirements and the corresponding test methods for powdered activated carbon. It gives information
on its use in water treatment.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 12901, Products used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Inorganic supporting
and filtering materials - Definitions
EN 12902, Products used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Inorganic supporting
and filtering materials - Methods of test
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 12901 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
activated Carbon – High Density Skeleton (steam activated carbon)
activated carbon produced by charring and activation of raw materials with steam or other gases
3.2
activated Carbon – Low Density Skeleton (chemically activated carbon)
activated carbon produced by charring and activation of raw materials with chemical activation agents
such as phosphoric acid
4 Description
4.1 Identification
4.1.1 Chemical name(s)
Activated Carbon – High Density Skeleton
Activated Carbon – Low Density Skeleton
4.1.2 Synonym or common names
Activated coal, activated charcoal, active carbon, PAC.
4.1.3 Chemical formula
C (elementary).
1)
4.1.4 CAS Registry Number
7440-44-0.
2)
4.1.5 EINECS reference
931-328-0 (Activated Carbon – High Density Skeleton)
931-334-3 (Activated Carbon – Low Density Skeleton)
4.2 Commercial form
Powdered activated carbon is available in many grades, differing mainly in adsorption characteristics,
porosity, particle size and purity.
5 Physical properties
5.1 Appearance
The product is a black powd
...