D28 - Activated Carbon

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The BWC, as determined by this test method, is a measure of the ability of an activated carbon to adsorb and desorb butane from dry air under specified conditions. It is useful for quality control and evaluation of granular activated carbons that are used in applications where the adsorption of butane and desorption with dry air are of interest. The BWC can also provide a relative measure of the effectiveness of the tested activated carbons on other adsorbates.  
5.2 The butane activity and retentivity can also be determined under the conditions of the test. The butane activity is an indication of the micropore volume of the activated carbon sample. The butane retentivity is an indication of the pore structure of the activated carbon sample.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the butane working capacity (BWC) of new granular activated carbon. The BWC is defined as the difference between the butane adsorbed at saturation and the butane retained per unit volume of carbon after a specified purge. The test method also produces a butane activity value that is defined as the total amount of butane adsorbed on the carbon sample and is expressed as a mass of butane per unit weight or volume of carbon.  
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 hazard statement, see 7.1.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 When a fluid containing an adsorbate is passed through a bed of activated carbon, chemical reactions may take place between the activated carbon, its other noncarbonaceous constituents, and the adsorbate-containing fluid. The pH of the carbon may be a significant parameter of such a reaction and therefore may be an important characteristic of the carbon.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers determination of the pH of a water extract of activated carbon.  
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 specific hazard statements, see Section 6.  
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.

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.  
FIG. 1 Butane Versus Carbon Tetrachloride Correlation  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific warning statement, see 7.1.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Activated carbons used in gas-phase adsorption may be subjected to heating, either from heat applied externally to the carbon bed, or heat generated by radioactive4 contaminants, or by the adsorption process itself. If the application of heat is sudden, or if no ample means to conduct the heat from the carbon bed exists, the carbon bed may ignite. This test method provides a controlled laboratory test to determine the temperatures at which such ignition occurs. As stated in 1.2, this does not necessarily give the temperature at which ignition will occur under a specific bed operating condition. This test method does, however, allow some ranking of carbons with regard to ignition temperature, and is a useful quality control method for unused carbons.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of reference ignition temperature of granular activated carbon in flowing air. This test method provides a basis for comparing the ignition characteristics of different carbons, or the change in ignition characteristics of the same carbon after a period of service.  
1.2 The ignition temperature, as determined by this test method, cannot be interpreted as the probable ignition temperature of the same carbon under the operating conditions of a specific application unless those conditions are essentially the same as those in this test method.2 If it is desired to determine the ignition temperature of the carbon under a specific set of operating conditions, the test may be modified to simulate such conditions, taking into consideration the following variables: (1) air flow rate; (2) moisture content of the carbon; (3) bed depth; (4) relative humidity of the air stream; (5) heating rate; (6) contaminants (for example, hydrocarbons, etc.) in the air stream; and (7) contaminants that may have been adsorbed by the carbon under prior service conditions.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 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. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 7.  
1.5 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Several methods have been employed in the past for determining the resistance of activated carbons to particle size degradation under service conditions, including the ball-pan method, the stirring bar method, and the dust elutriation method. None of these have proven completely satisfactory for all applications, and all have been questioned by ASTM Committee D28 on Activated Carbon as tests for establishing degradation resistance. However, the ball-pan method has been used widely in the past and has a broad history in the activated carbon industry for measuring the property loosely described as “hardness.” In this context the test is useful in establishing a measurable characteristic of a carbon. Conceding the fact that the test does not actually measure in-service resistance to degradation, it can be used to establish the comparability of lots ostensibly of the same grade of carbon.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the ball-pan hardness number of granular activated carbons. For the purpose of this test, granular activated carbons are those having particles 90 % of which are larger than 80 mesh (180 μm) as determined by Test Method D2862.  
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.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The particle size of fine mesh and powdered activated carbon is sometimes used to evaluate filter cake filtration rates and the filter penetration in filtering applications.  
5.2 The selection and handling of fine mesh or powdered activated carbon, and operation of processes using fine mesh or powdered activated carbon, requires the knowledge of the particle size.  
5.3 This test method is intended for single sieve testing only. For determination of particle size distribution of a sample, the test must be repeated using sieves with different openings.
Note 1: Relative humidity (RH) can affect the repeatability and accuracy of this test. Activated carbon not at equilibrium with the RH of the ambient air may lose or gain weight accordingly, dependent upon whether the carbon picks up or loses moisture.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the particle size of powdered activated carbons using an air-jet sieve device. For purposes of this test method, powdered activated carbon is defined as activated carbon in particle sizes predominantly in a range of 80 mesh (0.180 mm) through 500 mesh (0.025 mm).  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for information only.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is used to determine the density expressed in g/mL for powdered or fine mesh carbon. Due to the nature of the small particles, the density of these carbon types cannot be measured using the same procedure as granular carbon.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the mechanically tapped density of powdered and fine mesh activated carbon. For the purpose of this test method, “powdered carbon” is defined as having a mean particle diameter less than 45 µm, and “fine mesh carbon” is defined as having a particle size predominately between 80 and 325 U.S. Standard mesh.  
1.2 The values in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measure 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.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The moisture content of activated carbon is often required to define and express its properties in relation to the net weight of the carbon.  
4.2 The moisture content of activated carbon packed in typical shipping containers will usually increase during transportation and storage. Users of activated carbon in applications where low moisture content is important should be aware of this effect.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods provide three procedures for the determination of the moisture content of activated carbon. The procedures may also be used to dry samples required for other tests. The oven drying and moisture balance methods are used when water is the only volatile material present and is in significant quantities, and the activated carbon is not heat sensitive (some activated carbons can ignite spontaneously at temperatures as low as 150 °C). The xylene extraction method is used when a carbon is known or suspected to be heat sensitive or to contain miscible organic compounds instead of or in addition to water. The interferences posed by miscible inorganic compounds has not been determined. The oven drying method described in these test methods may be used as the reference for development of instrumental techniques for moisture determination in activated carbon.  
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.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The results of this test method give a conservative estimate of the performance of nuclear-grade activated carbon used in all nuclear power plant HVAC systems for the removal of radioiodine.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is a very stringent procedure for establishing the capability of new and used activated carbon to remove radio-labeled methyl iodide from air and gas streams. The single test method described is for application to both new and used carbons, and should give test results comparable to those obtained from similar tests required and performed throughout the world. The conditions employed were selected to approximate operating or accident conditions of a nuclear reactor which would severely reduce the performance of activated carbons. Increasing the temperature at which this test is performed generally increases the removal efficiency of the carbon by increasing the rate of chemical and physical absorption and isotopic exchange, that is, increasing the kinetics of the radioiodine removal mechanisms. Decreasing the relative humidity of the test generally increases the efficiency of methyl iodide removal by activated carbon. The water vapor competes with the methyl iodide for adsorption sites on the carbon, and as the amount of water vapor decreases with lower specified relative humidities, the easier it is for the methyl iodide to be adsorbed. Therefore, this test method is a very stringent test of nuclear-grade activated carbon because of the low temperature and high relative humidity specified. This test method is recommended for the qualification of new carbons and the quantification of the degradation of used carbons.  
1.1.1 Guidance for testing new and used carbons using conditions different from this test method is offered in Annex A1.  
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.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The quantitative determination of acid-extractable content is useful in evaluating activated carbon samples that contain acid-soluble impurities. These acid-soluble impurities can affect applications of activated carbon.  
4.2 Limitations of Method—Hydrochloric acid is used in this test method as the extracting acid. All elements or compounds present in the activated carbon sample, which can be acid extracted, are assumed to form water-soluble chloride salts. Hydrochloric acid may not solubilize all impurities of activated carbon.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is to be used for determination of the acid-extractable content of a sample of activated carbon. This test method presupposes the existence of substances other than carbon to be present with activated carbon but does not purport to address or identify those substances which may be present. This test method should be applicable to any form in which activated carbon may exist and requires the performance of Test Method D2866.  
1.2 This test method requires the use of concentrated hydrochloric acid, which should be used in an appropriate and safe manner, with eye protection, skin protection, and handling carried out in a properly operating fume hood. The proper use of a muffle furnace is addressed in Test Method D2866.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 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.  
1.5 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This method compares the performance of granular or pelletized activated carbons used in odor control applications, such as sewage treatment plants, pump stations, etc. The method determines the relative breakthrough performance of activated carbon for removing hydrogen sulfide from a humidified gas stream. Other organic contaminants present in field operations may affect the H2S breakthrough capacity of the carbon; these are not addressed by this test. This test does not simulate actual conditions encountered in an odor control application, and is therefore meant only to compare the hydrogen sulfide breakthrough capacities of different carbons under the conditions of the laboratory test.  
5.2 This test does not duplicate conditions that an adsorber would encounter in practical service. The mass transfer zone in the 23 cm column used in this test is proportionally much larger than that in the typical bed used in industrial applications. This difference favors a carbon that functions more rapidly for removal of H2S over a carbon with slower kinetics. Also, the 1 % H2S challenge gas concentration used here engenders a significant temperature rise in the carbon bed. This effect may also differentiate between carbons in a way that is not reflected in the conditions of practical service.  
5.3 This standard as written is applicable only to granular and pelletized activated carbons with mean particle diameters less than 2.5 mm. Application of this standard to activated carbons with mean particle diameters (MPD) greater than 2.5 mm will require a larger diameter adsorption column. The ratio of column inside diameter to MPD should be greater than 10 in order to avoid wall effects. In these cases it is suggested that bed superficial velocity and contact time be held invariant at the conditions specified in this standard (4.77 cm/s and 4.8 s). Although not covered by this standard, data obtained from these tests may be reported as in paragraph 12 along with additional ...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is intended to evaluate the performance of virgin, newly impregnated or in-service, granular or pelletized activated carbon for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from an air stream, under the laboratory test conditions described herein. A humidified air stream containing 1 % (by volume) hydrogen sulfide is passed through a carbon bed until 50 ppm breakthrough of H2S is observed. The H2S adsorption capacity of the carbon per unit volume at 99.5 % removal efficiency (g H2S/cm3 carbon) is then calculated. This test is not necessarily applicable to non-carbon adsorptive materials.  
1.2 This standard as written is applicable only to granular and pelletized activated carbons with mean particle diameters (MPD) less than 2.5 mm. See paragraph 5.3 if activated carbons with larger MPDs are to be tested.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 It is necessary to know the distribution of particle sizes of granular activated carbon in order to provide proper contact of gases or liquid in a packed bed of the material. Changes in particle size distribution can affect the pressure drop across the bed and the rate of adsorption in a bed of a given size.  
4.2 Mean particle diameter is a property of activated carbons that influences pressure drop.  
4.3 Effective size and uniformity coefficient are two properties of activated carbons often of interest in municipal water treatment applications where control of particle size is of interest.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the particle size distribution of granular activated carbon. For the purposes of this test, granular activated carbon is defined as a minimum of 90 % of the sample weight being retained on a 180 μm Standard sieve. A U.S. mesh 80 sieve is equivalent to a 180 μm Standard sieve.
Note 1: For extruded carbons, as the length/diameter ratio of the particles increases, the validity of the test results might be affected.  
1.2 The data obtained may also be used to calculate mean particle diameter (MPD), effective size, and uniformity coefficient.  
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3.1 Exception—All mass measurements are in SI units only.  
1.4 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.  
1.5 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This practice allows the adsorption capacity at equilibrium of an activated carbon for adsorbable constituents present in water to be determined. The Freundlich K and 1/n constants that can be calculated based upon information collected using this practice can be used to estimate carbon loading capacities and usages rates for the constituent present in a water stream at other concentrations.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the assessment of activated carbon for the removal of low concentrations of adsorbable constituents from water and wastewater using the bottle point isotherm technique. It can be used to characterize the adsorptive properties of virgin and reactivated activated carbons.  
1.2 This practice can be used in systems with constituent concentrations in the low milligrams per litre or micrograms per litre concentration ranges.  
1.3 This practice can be used to determine the adsorptive capacity of and Freundlich constants for volatile organic compounds provided the handling procedures described in this practice are followed carefully.  
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 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.  
1.6 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
2.1 This terminology ensures that terms peculiar to activated carbon are adequately defined so that other standards in which such terms are used can be understood and interpreted properly.  
2.2 This terminology is useful to those who are not conversant with the terms related to activated carbon. However, it is also a ready reference for those directly associated with activated carbon to resolve differences and ensure commonality of usage, particularly in the preparation of ASTM standards.  
2.3 Although this terminology is intended to promote uniformity in the usage of terms related to activated carbon, it can never be complete because new terms are constantly arising. The existence of this terminology does not preclude the use or misuse of any term in another context.
SCOPE
1.1 This terminology covers terms particularly related to activated carbon and encompasses finished products, applications, and testing procedures.  
1.2 When any of the definitions in this terminology is quoted or published out of context, editorially insert the limiting phrase “in activated carbon” after the dash following the term to properly limit the field of application of the term and definition.  
1.3 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.

ABSTRACT
This set of guidelines is offered to users of activated carbon to provide a better understanding of the reactivation process and some of the problems associated with sending carbon off-site or to a third party for thermal reactivation. It is not intended to serve as an operating procedure for those companies or persons that actually operate reactivation facilities. This is true because each reactivation facility is unique, using different types of furnaces, using various operating and performance requirements, and running spent activated carbons either in aggregate pools (combining different suppliers of carbon) or in custom segregated lots. Additionally, proprietary information for each facility relative to the particular equipment used cannot be addressed in a general set of guidelines. The equipment used for thermal reactivation process usually consists of rotary kilns, vertical tube furnaces, fluidized beds, or a multiple hearth furnace. All of these can be fired directly or indirectly. Auxiliary equipment to the furnace or kiln consists of feed screws, dewatering screws, direct feed bins, dust control equipment, product coolers, screening equipment, off-gas pollution abatement equipment, and tankage.
SCOPE
1.1 This set of guidelines is offered to users of activated carbon to provide a better understanding of the reactivation process and some of the problems associated with sending carbon offsite or to a third party for thermal reactivation. It is not intended to serve as an operating procedure for those companies or persons that actually operate reactivation facilities. This is true because each reactivation facility is unique, using different types of furnaces, using various operating and performance requirements, and running spent activated carbons either in aggregate pools (combining different suppliers of carbon) or in custom segregated lots. Additionally, proprietary information for each facility relative to the particular equipment used cannot be addressed in a general set of guidelines.  
1.2 This standard does not purport to address any environmental regulatory concerns associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate practices for reactivation prior to use.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 It is often useful to estimate the degree of saturation, and hence the expected remaining service life, of activated carbon that has been in use for some time. This guide is applicable when such information must be obtained fairly rapidly under field conditions without access to optimal analytical instruments.3 The organic liquid used should be of the same organic composition as that adsorbed on the carbon sample.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the measurement of the temperature rise resulting from the heat of immersion when a known mass of a specified organic liquid is added to a sample of activated carbon. If the carbon has been in use as an adsorbent and may therefore be partially or fully exhausted, its degree of saturation may be estimated by comparing its temperature rise with that of an unused sample of the same activated carbon.  
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.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The iodine number is a relative indicator of porosity in an activated carbon. It does not necessarily provide a measure of the carbon's ability to absorb other species. Iodine number may be used as an approximation of surface area for some types of activated carbons (see Test Method C819). However, it must be realized that any relationship between surface area and iodine number cannot be generalized. It varies with changes in carbon raw material, processing conditions, and pore volume distribution (see Terminology D2652).  
4.2 The presence of adsorbed volatiles, sulfur, and water extractables may affect the measured iodine number of an activated carbon.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the relative activation level of unused or reactivated carbons by adsorption of iodine from aqueous solution. The amount of iodine absorbed (in milligrams) by 1 g of carbon using test conditions listed herein is called the iodine number.  
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. Specific hazard statements are given in Section 7.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Three forces can mechanically degrade a granular activated carbon: impact, crushing, and attrition. Of these three, attrition, or abrasion, is the most common cause of dust formation in actual service. Published test procedures to determine the “hardness” of activated carbons produce results that in general cannot be correlated with field experience. For example, the ball-pan hardness test applies all three forces to the sample in a variable manner determined by the size, shape, and density of the particles. The “stirring bar” abrasion test measures attrition so long as the particle size is smaller than 12 mesh. There is some evidence, however, that the results of this test method are influenced by particle geometry. The procedure set forth in this guide measures the effect of friction forces between vibrating or slowly moving particles during the test and may be only slightly dependent on particle size, shape, and density effects.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide presents a procedure for evaluating the resistance to dusting attrition of granular activated carbons. For the purpose of this guide, the dust attrition coefficient, DA, is defined as the weight (or calculated volume) of dust per unit time, collected on a preweighed filter, in a given vibrating device during a designated time per unit weight of carbon. The initial dust content of the sample may also be determined. Granular activated carbon is defined as a minimum of 90 % being larger than 80 mesh (0.18 mm) (see Test Methods D2867).  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for information only.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Volatile matter, when determined as herein described, may be used as a relative measure of the extent of carbonization in an activated carbon and the extent of loading of volatile material on an activated carbon that has been used in an adsorption application.  
5.2 Combined with other information, the volatile matter of an activated carbon may be useful in evaluating its performance in an adsorption application.  
5.3 Other automated methods for the determination of the volatile content of solids, such as using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), can be used in place of this test method with equally reliable results.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the percentage of gaseous products, exclusive of moisture vapor, present in virgin and used activated carbons which are released under specific conditions of the test.  
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.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Granular activated carbon (GAC) is commonly used to remove contaminants from water. However if not used properly, GAC can not only be expensive but can at times be ineffective. The development of engineering data for the design of full-scale adsorbers often requires time-consuming and expensive pilot plant studies. This rapid standard practice has been developed to predict adsorption in large-scale adsorbers based upon results from small column testing. In contrast to pilot plant studies, the small-scale column test presented in this practice does not allow for a running evaluation of factors that may affect GAC performance over time. Such factors may include, for example, an increased removal of target compounds by bacterial colonizing GAC3 or long-term fouling of GAC caused by inorganic compounds or background organic matter.4 Nevertheless, this practice offers more relevant operational data than isotherm testing without the principal drawbacks of pilot plant studies, namely time and expense; and unlike pilot plant studies, small-scale studies can be performed in a laboratory using water sampled from a remote location.  
5.2 This practice known as the rapid small-scale column test (RSSCT) uses empty bed contact time (EBCT) and hydraulic loading to describe the adsorption process. Mean carbon particle diameter is used to scale RSSCT results to predict the performance of a full-scale adsorber.  
5.3 This practice can be used to compare the effectiveness of different activated carbons for the removal of contaminants from a common water stream.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers a test method for the evaluation of granular activated carbon (GAC) for the adsorption of soluble pollutants from water. This practice can be used to estimate the operating capacities of virgin and reactivated granular activated carbons. The results obtained from the small-scale column testing can be used to predict the adsorption of target compounds on GAC in a large column or full-scale adsorber application.  
1.2 This practice can be applied to all types of water including synthetically contaminated water (prepared by spiking high-purity water with selected contaminants), potable waters, industrial wastewaters, sanitary wastes, and effluent waters.  
1.3 This practice is useful for the determination of breakthrough curves for specific contaminants in water, the determination of the lengths of the adsorbates mass transfer zones (MTZ), and the prediction of GAC usage rates for larger scale adsorbers.  
1.4 The following safety caveat applies to the procedure section, Section 10, 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 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.

ABSTRACT
This standard covers the specifications for physical properties and performance requirements of virgin impregnated activated carbon to be used for the removal of gaseous radioiodine species from gas streams. The activated carbon furnished under this specification shall be virgin material. Each batch of impregnated activated carbon shall conform to the requirements for physical properties prescribed. The following test methods shall used to determine the physical properties and performance capability of the sample: apparent density; particle size distribution; ash content; moisture content; ignition temperature; ball-pan hardness; and pH.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Activated carbons used in containment systems for nuclear reactors must be capable of functioning under both normal operating conditions and those conditions which may exist following a design basis accident (DBA). Adsorbent beds that are part of recirculatory systems inside containment may be exposed to the peak pressure, temperature, and steam content of a post-DBA condition.  
5.2 Carbon beds outside containment will be protected by fast-acting shutoff valves from the sudden rise in pressure, temperature, and humidity of the containment atmosphere which would exist following a DBA. However, some rise in temperature and humidity will be experienced even by beds outside containment if they are reconnected to containment after the initial pressure rise (due to escape of steam into the containment volume) has been reduced by containment coolers. The amount of radioactivity that can reach either type of adsorption system is conceivably quite high; hence, there is a possibility of a bed temperature rise due to decay heating. The gaseous radioactive contaminants of most interest are organic iodides. In this test, CH3I is used to typify the performance of the carbon on organic iodine compounds in general. The test described here provide a reasonable picture of the effectiveness of an activated carbon for organic iodides under normal and post-DBA conditions. The equipment and methods described can be used, with discretion, for similar tests at different gas flow conditions and, to some extent, on different gaseous radioactive contaminants and other adsorbents.
SCOPE
1.1 This standard covers the specifications for physical properties and performance requirements of virgin impregnated activated carbon to be used for the removal of gaseous radioiodine species from gas streams.  
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 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.

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 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.  
1.6 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 In certain applications, the ash, color, conductivity, or pH of the finished activated carbon product may be influenced by the quantity of water solubles it contains. This water solubles test provides a relative indication of the quantity of soluble materials that may be extracted from various activated carbons.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the water-soluble content of (unused) granular and powdered activated carbons. Water solubles are materials that can be extracted by distilled water under reflux conditions and are expressed as a percentage of dry carbon weight.  
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.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The determination of contact pH can be used as a simple and fast measurement that can allow activated carbon producers and users to have a standard method for assessing the effect various carbons will have on the initial pH of the water in contact with the carbon. It has been determined that there is a bias between this method and Test Method D3838; they are not equivalent.
SCOPE
1.1 This method is to be used in the determination of the pH of water on initial contact with activated carbon. This test method is not meant as a replacement for Test Method D3838 and may give a different value.  
1.2 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.  
1.3 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Activity as measured by this test method is basically a measure of the pore volume of the activated carbon sample. This test method is therefore a means of determining the degree of completion of the activation process, hence a useful means of quality control for gas-phase activated carbons. This activity number does not necessarily provide an absolute or relative measure of the effectiveness of the tested carbon on other adsorbates, or at other conditions of operation.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the activation level of activated carbon. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) activity is defined herein as the ratio (in percent) of the weight of CCl4 adsorbed by an activated carbon sample to the weight of the sample, when the carbon is saturated with CCl4 under 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazards statements are given in Section 7.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This test method provides a method for determining the packed density of a bed of granular activated carbon. Determination of the packed density is essential when designing vessels to hold the material and for ordering purposes when procuring materials to fill existing vessels.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the apparent density of granular activated carbon. For purposes of this test method, granular activated carbon is defined as a minimum of 90 % being larger than 80 mesh.  
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.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Activated carbon is used extensively for removing gases and vapors from air or other gas streams. The physical and chemical characteristics of an activated carbon can strongly influence its suitability for a given application. The procedure in this guide allows the evaluation of the dynamic adsorption characteristics of an activated carbon for a particular adsorbate under conditions chosen by the user. It is necessary that the user choose test conditions that are meaningful for the application (see Section 9).  
5.2 This guide can also be used to evaluate activated carbons that have been impregnated with materials to enhance their effectiveness at removing gases otherwise poorly adsorbed on activated carbon.  
5.3 The procedure given in this guide is not generally applicable for evaluation of carbons used as catalysts for such purposes as decomposition of low levels of ozone or oxidation of SO2 to SO3.  
5.4 The procedure given in this guide can be applied to reactivated or regenerated activated carbons.  
5.5 Fig. 1 shows the adsorbate concentration profile in an activated carbon bed at breakthrough. The bed has a zone at the inlet in which the adsorbate concentration is equal to the influent concentration. In this region the carbon is at equilibrium with adsorbate. The adsorbate concentration in the remainder of the bed drops until at the outlet it is equal to the breakthrough concentration. The shorter the length of this mass transfer zone (adsorption zone), the more effectively the carbon in the bed is utilized. A bed whose depth is less than the length of this zone will show immediate appearance of adsorbate in the effluent (breakpoint).
FIG. 1 Concentration Profile of an Activated Carbon Bed at Breakthrough  
5.6 From the standpoint of best carbon utilization, it is desirable to choose a carbon which will give as short a mass transfer zone as possible under use conditions. However, in many applications, high adsorptive capacity is more important th...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the evaluation of activated carbons for gas-phase adsorption. It presents a procedure for determining the dynamic adsorption capacity, No, and critical bed depth, dc, for an activated carbon used to remove a specific adsorbate from a gas stream under conditions chosen by the user.  
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. Specific hazards statements are given in Section 7.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 In specific end uses, the amount and composition of the ash may influence the capabilities and certain desired properties of activated carbon.  
4.2 Other automated methods for determination of ash content, such as combusting the carbon in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) in flowing air or oxygen, can be used in place of this test method. A suitable method is described in Test Methods D7582. For determination of the ash content of activated carbon, follow the procedure in 13.5.3 of Test Methods D7582, with the exception that the furnace temperature in 13.4.3 shall be 650 ± 25 °C. The muffle furnace method shall be considered the reference test method.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a procedure for the determination of total ash content of activated carbon.  
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.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 In certain applications, such as acid purification, acidic food or chemical purification or decolorization, or other applications wherein iron may be leached out of the carbon, the use of acid-washed carbons will reduce or eliminate color pickup in the effluent or in the product. The acid soluble iron content is usually specified by the carbon supplier to prevent unacceptable levels of iron leach occurring.  
5.2 Detection limits, sensitivity, and optimum ranges will vary with the models of atomic absorption spectrophotometers. General instrumental parameters are as follows:  
5.2.1 Iron hollow cathode lamp.  
5.2.2 Wavelength: 248.3 nm.  
5.2.3 Fuel: acetylene (high purity).  
5.2.4 Oxidant: air (from compressed air line, laboratory compressor, or a cylinder of compressed air—all need to be clean and dry).  
5.2.5 Type of flame: oxidizing.  
5.2.6 The following lines may also be used:    
248.8 nm Relative Sensitivity 2  
271.9 nm Relative Sensitivity 4  
302.1 nm Relative Sensitivity 5  
252.7 nm Relative Sensitivity 6  
372.0 nm Relative Sensitivity 10  
5.3 The method, as written, is intended for carbons having an acid soluble iron content of 0.0030 to 0.050 %. For carbons having higher iron contents, larger dilutions or smaller aliquots may be used.  
5.4 The user should validate that there are no interferences from other metals in the sample matrix.  
5.5 To prevent erroneous results, the user should ensure that no iron instruments contact any of the sample or the solutions used in this procedure. Only glass, ceramics, or plastic should be allowed to contact the sample or solutions.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the acid soluble iron content of granular and powdered activated carbons, using an atomic absorption spectroscopy method by direct aspiration. Hydrochloric acid is used to extract the iron. This test method is not directly usable to determine the total iron concentration of a sample.  
1.2 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 hazard statement, see Section 8.  
1.3 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
2.1 This terminology ensures that terms peculiar to activated carbon are adequately defined so that other standards in which such terms are used can be understood and interpreted properly.  
2.2 This terminology is useful to those who are not conversant with the terms related to activated carbon. However, it is also a ready reference for those directly associated with activated carbon to resolve differences and ensure commonality of usage, particularly in the preparation of ASTM standards.  
2.3 Although this terminology is intended to promote uniformity in the usage of terms related to activated carbon, it can never be complete because new terms are constantly arising. The existence of this terminology does not preclude the use or misuse of any term in another context.
SCOPE
1.1 This terminology covers terms particularly related to activated carbon and encompasses finished products, applications, and testing procedures.  
1.2 When any of the definitions in this terminology is quoted or published out of context, editorially insert the limiting phrase “in activated carbon” after the dash following the term to properly limit the field of application of the term and definition.  
1.3 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
2.1 This terminology ensures that terms peculiar to activated carbon are adequately defined so that other standards in which such terms are used can be understood and interpreted properly.  
2.2 This terminology is useful to those who are not conversant with the terms related to activated carbon. However, it is also a ready reference for those directly associated with activated carbon to resolve differences and ensure commonality of usage, particularly in the preparation of ASTM standards.  
2.3 Although this terminology is intended to promote uniformity in the usage of terms related to activated carbon, it can never be complete because new terms are constantly arising. The existence of this terminology does not preclude the use or misuse of any term in another context.
SCOPE
1.1 This terminology covers terms particularly related to activated carbon and encompasses finished products, applications, and testing procedures.  
1.2 When any of the definitions in this terminology is quoted or published out of context, editorially insert the limiting phrase “in activated carbon” after the dash following the term to properly limit the field of application of the term and definition.  
1.3 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Three forces can mechanically degrade a granular activated carbon: impact, crushing, and attrition. Of these three, attrition, or abrasion, is the most common cause of dust formation in actual service. Published test procedures to determine the “hardness” of activated carbons produce results that in general cannot be correlated with field experience. For example, the ball-pan hardness test applies all three forces to the sample in a variable manner determined by the size, shape, and density of the particles. The “stirring bar” abrasion test measures attrition so long as the particle size is smaller than 12 mesh. There is some evidence, however, that the results of this test method are influenced by particle geometry. The procedure set forth in this guide measures the effect of friction forces between vibrating or slowly moving particles during the test and may be only slightly dependent on particle size, shape, and density effects.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide presents a procedure for evaluating the resistance to dusting attrition of granular activated carbons. For the purpose of this guide, the dust attrition coefficient, DA, is defined as the weight (or calculated volume) of dust per unit time, collected on a preweighed filter, in a given vibrating device during a designated time per unit weight of carbon. The initial dust content of the sample may also be determined. Granular activated carbon is defined as a minimum of 90 % being larger than 80 mesh (0.18 mm) (see Test Methods D2867).  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for information only.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The particle size of powdered activated carbon is sometimes used to evaluate filter cake filtration rates and the filter penetration in filtering applications. The selection and handling of powdered activated carbon, and operation of processes using powdered activated carbon, requires the knowledge of the particle size.  
Note 1: Relative humidity (RH) can affect the repeatability and accuracy of this test. Activated carbon not at equilibrium with the RH of the ambient air may lose or gain weight accordingly, dependent upon whether or not the carbon picks up or loses moisture.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the particle size of powdered activated carbons using an air-jet sieve device. For purposes of this test method, powdered activated carbon is defined as activated carbon in particle sizes predominantly smaller than 80 mesh.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for information only.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Activated carbons used in gas-phase adsorption may be subjected to heating, either from heat applied externally to the carbon bed, or heat generated by radioactive4 contaminants, or by the adsorption process itself. If the application of heat is sudden, or if no ample means to conduct the heat from the carbon bed exists, the carbon bed may ignite. This test method provides a controlled laboratory test to determine the temperatures at which such ignition occurs. As stated in 1.2, this does not necessarily give the temperature at which ignition will occur under a specific bed operating condition. This test method does, however, allow some ranking of carbons with regard to ignition temperature, and is a useful quality control method for unused carbons.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of reference ignition temperature of granular activated carbon in flowing air. This test method provides a basis for comparing the ignition characteristics of different carbons, or the change in ignition characteristics of the same carbon after a period of service.  
1.2 The ignition temperature, as determined by this test method, cannot be interpreted as the probable ignition temperature of the same carbon under the operating conditions of a specific application unless those conditions are essentially the same as those in this test method.2 If it is desired to determine the ignition temperature of the carbon under a specific set of operating conditions, the test may be modified to simulate such conditions, taking into consideration the following variables: (1) air flow rate; (2) moisture content of the carbon; (3) bed depth; (4) relative humidity of the air stream; (5) heating rate; (6) contaminants (for example, hydrocarbons, etc.) in the air stream; and (7) contaminants that may have been adsorbed by the carbon under prior service conditions.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 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. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 7.  
1.5 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is used to determine the density expressed in g/mL for powdered or fine mesh carbon. Due to the nature of the small particles, the density of these carbon types cannot be measured using the same procedure as granular carbon.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the mechanically tapped density of powdered and fine mesh activated carbon. For the purpose of this test method, “powdered carbon” is defined as having a mean particle diameter less than 45 µm, and “fine mesh carbon” is defined as having a particle size predominately between 80 and 325 U.S. Standard mesh.  
1.2 The values in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measure 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.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The moisture content of activated carbon is often required to define and express its properties in relation to the net weight of the carbon.  
4.2 The moisture content of activated carbon packed in typical shipping containers will usually increase during transportation and storage. Users of activated carbon in applications where low moisture content is important should be aware of this effect.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods provide two procedures for the determination of the moisture content of activated carbon.2 The procedures may also be used to dry samples required for other tests. The oven drying method is used when water is the only volatile material present and is in significant quantities, and the activated carbon is not heat sensitive (some activated carbons can ignite spontaneously at temperatures as low as 150 °C). The xylene extraction method is used when a carbon is known or suspected to be heat sensitive or to contain nonwater-miscible organic compounds instead of or in addition to water. The oven drying method described in these test methods may be used as the reference for development of instrumental techniques for moisture determination in activated carbon.  
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.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This practice allows the adsorption capacity at equilibrium of an activated carbon for adsorbable constituents present in water to be determined. The Freundlich K and 1/n constants that can be calculated based upon information collected using this practice can be used to estimate carbon loading capacities and usages rates for the constituent present in a water stream at other concentrations.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the assessment of activated carbon for the removal of low concentrations of adsorbable constituents from water and wastewater using the bottle point isotherm technique. It can be used to characterize the adsorptive properties of virgin and reactivated activated carbons.  
1.2 This practice can be used in systems with constituent concentrations in the low milligrams per litre or micrograms per litre concentration ranges.  
1.3 This practice can be used to determine the adsorptive capacity of and Freundlich constants for volatile organic compounds provided the handling procedures described in this practice are followed carefully.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The quantitative determination of acid-extractable content is useful in evaluating activated carbon samples that contain acid-soluble impurities. These acid-soluble impurities can affect applications of activated carbon.  
4.2 Limitations of Method—Hydrochloric acid is used in this test method as the extracting acid. All elements or compounds present in the activated carbon sample, which can be acid extracted, are assumed to form water-soluble chloride salts. Hydrochloric acid may not solubilize all impurities of activated carbon.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is to be used for determination of the acid-extractable content of a sample of activated carbon. This test method presupposes the existence of substances other than carbon to be present with activated carbon but does not purport to address or identify those substances which may be present. This test method should be applicable to any form in which activated carbon may exist and requires the performance of Test Method D2866.  
1.2 This test method requires the use of concentrated hydrochloric acid, which should be used in an appropriate and safe manner, with eye protection, skin protection, and handling carried out in a properly operating fume hood. The proper use of a muffle furnace is addressed in Test Method D2866.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 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 determines the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 When a fluid containing an adsorbate is passed through a bed of activated carbon, chemical reactions may take place between the activated carbon, its other noncarbonaceous constituents, and the adsorbate-containing fluid. The pH of the carbon may be a significant parameter of such a reaction and therefore may be an important characteristic of the carbon.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers determination of the pH of a water extract of activated carbon.  
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 specific hazard statements, see Section 6.

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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 It is necessary to know the distribution of particle sizes of granular activated carbon in order to provide proper contact of gases or liquid in a packed bed of the material. Changes in particle size distribution can affect the pressure drop across the bed and the rate of adsorption in a bed of a given size.  
4.2 Mean particle diameter is a property of activated carbons that influences pressure drop.  
4.3 Effective size and uniformity coefficient are two properties of activated carbons often of interest in municipal water treatment applications where control of particle size is of interest.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the particle size distribution of granular activated carbon. For the purposes of this test, granular activated carbon is defined as a minimum of 90 % of the sample weight being retained on a 180-μm Standard sieve. A U.S. mesh 80 sieve is equivalent to a 180–μm Standard sieve.
Note 1: For extruded carbons, as the length/diameter ratio of the particles increases, the validity of the test results might be affected.  
1.2 The data obtained may also be used to calculate mean particle diameter (MPD), effective size, and uniformity coefficient.  
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3.1 Exception—All mass measurements are in SI units only.  
1.4 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Several methods have been employed in the past for determining the resistance of activated carbons to particle size degradation under service conditions, including the ball-pan method, the stirring bar method, and the dust elutriation method. None of these has proved completely satisfactory for all applications, and all have been questioned by ASTM Committee D28 on Activated Carbon as tests for establishing degradation resistance. However, the ball-pan method has been used widely in the past and has a broad history in the activated carbon industry for measuring the property loosely described as “hardness.” In this context the test is useful in establishing a measurable characteristic of a carbon. Conceding the fact that the test does not actually measure in-service resistance to degradation, it can be used to establish the comparability of lots ostensibly of the same grade of carbon.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the ball-pan hardness number of granular activated carbons. For the purpose of this test, granular activated carbons are those having particles 90 % of which are larger than 80 mesh (180 μm) as determined by Test Method D2862.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The BWC, as determined by this test method, is a measure of the ability of an activated carbon to adsorb and desorb butane from dry air under specified conditions. It is useful for quality control and evaluation of granular activated carbons that are used in applications where the adsorption of butane and desorption with dry air are of interest. The BWC can also provide a relative measure of the effectiveness of the tested activated carbons on other adsorbates.  
5.2 The butane activity and retentivity can also be determined under the conditions of the test. The butane activity is an indication of the micropore volume of the activated carbon sample. The butane retentivity is an indication of the pore structure of the activated carbon sample.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the butane working capacity (BWC) of new granular activated carbon. The BWC is defined as the difference between the butane adsorbed at saturation and the butane retained per unit volume of carbon after a specified purge. The test method also produces a butane activity value that is defined as the total amount of butane adsorbed on the carbon sample and is expressed as a mass of butane per unit weight or volume of carbon.  
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 hazard statement, see 7.1.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The BWC, as determined by this test method, is a measure of the ability of an activated carbon to adsorb and desorb butane from dry air under specified conditions. It is useful for quality control and evaluation of granular activated carbons that are used in applications where the adsorption of butane and desorption with dry air are of interest. The BWC can also provide a relative measure of the effectiveness of the tested activated carbons on other adsorbates.  
5.2 The butane activity and retentivity can also be determined under the conditions of the test. The butane activity is an indication of the micropore volume of the activated carbon sample. The butane retentivity is an indication of the pore structure of the activated carbon sample.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the butane working capacity (BWC) of new granular activated carbon. The BWC is defined as the difference between the butane adsorbed at saturation and the butane retained per unit volume of carbon after a specified purge. The test method also produces a butane activity value that is defined as the total amount of butane adsorbed on the carbon sample and is expressed as a mass of butane per unit weight or volume of carbon.  
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 hazard statement, see 7.1.

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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This method compares the performance of granular or pelletized activated carbons used in odor control applications, such as sewage treatment plants, pump stations, etc. The method determines the relative breakthrough performance of activated carbon for removing hydrogen sulfide from a humidified gas stream. Other organic contaminants present in field operations may affect the H2S breakthrough capacity of the carbon; these are not addressed by this test. This test does not simulate actual conditions encountered in an odor control application, and is therefore meant only to compare the hydrogen sulfide breakthrough capacities of different carbons under the conditions of the laboratory test.  
5.2 This test does not duplicate conditions that an adsorber would encounter in practical service. The mass transfer zone in the 23 cm column used in this test is proportionally much larger than that in the typical bed used in industrial applications. This difference favors a carbon that functions more rapidly for removal of H2S over a carbon with slower kinetics. Also, the 1 % H2S challenge gas concentration used here engenders a significant temperature rise in the carbon bed. This effect may also differentiate between carbons in a way that is not reflected in the conditions of practical service.  
5.3 This standard as written is applicable only to granular and pelletized activated carbons with mean particle diameters less than 2.5 mm. Application of this standard to activated carbons with mean particle diameters (MPD) greater than 2.5 mm will require a larger diameter adsorption column. The ratio of column inside diameter to MPD should be greater than 10 in order to avoid wall effects. In these cases it is suggested that bed superficial velocity and contact time be held invariant at the conditions specified in this standard (4.77 cm/sec and 4.8 sec). Although not covered by this standard, data obtained from these tests may be reported as in paragraph 12 along with additio...
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1.1 This test method is intended to evaluate the performance of virgin, newly impregnated or in-service, granular or pelletized activated carbon for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from an air stream, under the laboratory test conditions described herein. A humidified air stream containing 1 % (by volume) hydrogen sulfide is passed through a carbon bed until 50 ppm breakthrough of H2S is observed. The H2S adsorption capacity of the carbon per unit volume at 99.5 % removal efficiency (g H2S/cm3 carbon) is then calculated. This test is not necessarily applicable to non-carbon adsorptive materials.  
1.2 This standard as written is applicable only to granular and pelletized activated carbons with mean particle diameters (MPD) less than 2.5 mm. See paragraph 5.3 if activated carbons with larger MPDs are to be tested.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The moisture content of activated carbon is often required to define and express its properties in relation to the net weight of the carbon.  
4.2 The moisture content of activated carbon packed in typical shipping containers will usually increase during transportation and storage. Users of activated carbon in applications where low moisture content is important should be aware of this effect.
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1.1 These test methods provide three procedures for the determination of the moisture content of activated carbon. The procedures may also be used to dry samples required for other tests. The oven-drying and moisture balance methods are used when water is the only volatile material present and is in significant quantities, and the activated carbon is not heat-sensitive (some activated carbons can ignite spontaneously at temperatures as low as 150°C). The xylene-extraction method is used when a carbon is known or suspected to be heat sensitive or to contain nonwater-miscible organic compounds instead of or in addition to water. The oven-drying method described in these test methods may be used as the reference for development of instrumental techniques for moisture determination in activated carbon.  
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.

ABSTRACT
This set of guidelines is offered to users of activated carbon to provide a better understanding of the reactivation process and some of the problems associated with sending carbon off-site or to a third party for thermal reactivation. It is not intended to serve as an operating procedure for those companies or persons that actually operate reactivation facilities. This is true because each reactivation facility is unique, using different types of furnaces, using various operating and performance requirements, and running spent activated carbons either in aggregate pools (combining different suppliers of carbon) or in custom segregated lots. Additionally, proprietary information for each facility relative to the particular equipment used cannot be addressed in a general set of guidelines. The equipment used for thermal reactivation process usually consists of rotary kilns, vertical tube furnaces, fluidized beds, or a multiple hearth furnace. All of these can be fired directly or indirectly. Auxiliary equipment to the furnace or kiln consists of feed screws, dewatering screws, direct feed bins, dust control equipment, product coolers, screening equipment, off-gas pollution abatement equipment, and tankage.
SCOPE
1.1 This set of guidelines is offered to users of activated carbon to provide a better understanding of the reactivation process and some of the problems associated with sending carbon off-site or to a third party for thermal reactivation. It is not intended to serve as an operating procedure for those companies or persons that actually operate reactivation facilities. This is true because each reactivation facility is unique, using different types of furnaces, using various operating and performance requirements, and running spent activated carbons either in aggregate pools (combining different suppliers of carbon) or in custom segregated lots. Additionally, proprietary information for each facility relative to the particular equipment used cannot be addressed in a general set of guidelines.  
1.2 This standard does not purport to address any environmental regulatory concerns associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate practices for reactivation prior to use.  
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 requirements prior to use.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Volatile matter, when determined as herein described, may be used as a relative measure of the extent of carbonization in an activated carbon and the extent of loading of volatile material on an activated carbon that has been used in an adsorption application.  
5.2 Combined with other information, the volatile matter of an activated carbon may be useful in evaluating its performance in an adsorption application.  
5.3 Other automated methods for the determination of the volatile content of solids, such as using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), can be used in place of this test method with equally reliable results.
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1.1 This test method covers the determination of the percentage of gaseous products, exclusive of moisture vapor, present in virgin and used activated carbons which are released under specific conditions of the test.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Activated carbon is used extensively for removing gases and vapors from air or other gas streams. The physical and chemical characteristics of an activated carbon can strongly influence its suitability for a given application. The procedure in this guide allows the evaluation of the dynamic adsorption characteristics of an activated carbon for a particular adsorbate under conditions chosen by the user. It is necessary that the user choose test conditions that are meaningful for the application (see Section 9).  
5.2 This guide can also be used to evaluate activated carbons that have been impregnated with materials to enhance their effectiveness at removing gases otherwise poorly adsorbed on activated carbon.  
5.3 The procedure given in this guide is not generally applicable for evaluation of carbons used as catalysts for such purposes as decomposition of low levels of ozone or oxidation of SO2 to SO3.  
5.4 The procedure given in this guide can be applied to reactivated or regenerated activated carbons.  
5.5 Fig. 1 shows the adsorbate concentration profile in an activated carbon bed at breakthrough. The bed has a zone at the inlet in which the adsorbate concentration is equal to the influent concentration. In this region the carbon is at equilibrium with adsorbate. The adsorbate concentration in the remainder of the bed drops until at the outlet it is equal to the breakthrough concentration. The shorter the length of this mass transfer zone (adsorption zone), the more effectively the carbon in the bed is utilized. A bed whose depth is less than the length of this zone will show immediate appearance of adsorbate in the effluent (breakpoint).  
5.6 From the standpoint of best carbon utilization it is desirable to choose a carbon which will give as short a mass transfer zone as possible under use conditions. However, in many applications, high adsorptive capacity is more important than a short mass transfer zone. In almost every application, bed pressure dro...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the evaluation of activated carbons for gas-phase adsorption. It presents a procedure for determining the dynamic adsorption capacity, No, and critical bed depth, d c, for an activated carbon used to remove a specific adsorbate from a gas stream under conditions chosen by the user.  
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. Specific hazards statements are given in Section 8.