ASTM_D_5742_-_16.pdf

Designation:D574216Standard Test Method forDetermination of Butane Activity of Activated Carbon1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5742;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers determination of the activationlevel of activated carbon.Butane activity(BA)is definedherein as the ratio(in percent)of the mass of butane adsorbedby an activated carbon sample to the mass of the sample,whenthe carbon is saturated with butane under the conditions listedin this test method.1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.For a specificwarning statement,see 7.1.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D2652 Terminology Relating to Activated CarbonD2854 Test Method for Apparent Density of ActivatedCarbonD2867 Test Methods for Moisture in Activated CarbonD3195 Practice for Rotameter CalibrationD3467 Test Method for Carbon Tetrachloride Activity ofActivated CarbonE177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias inASTM Test MethodsE300 Practice for Sampling Industrial ChemicalsE691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test Method3.Terminology3.1 Definitions For definitions of terms used in this testmethod,refer to Terminology D2652.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 An activated carbon bed of known volume and mass issaturated with butane vapor.The mass adsorbed at saturation isnoted and reported as mass of butane per unit mass of carbon.5.Significance and Use5.1 The butane activity as determined by this test method isa measure of the ability of an activated carbon to adsorb butanefrom dry air under specified conditions.It is useful for thequality control and evaluation of granular activated carbons.The butane activity is an indication of the micropore volume ofthe activated carbon sample.This activity number does notnecessarily provide an absolute or relative measure of theeffectiveness of the tested carbon for other adsorbates or atother conditions of operation.5.2 The butane activity test can be used as a non-ozonedepleting substitute for the carbon tetrachloride activity test inTest Method D3467.Fig.1 shows an experimental correlationof activity values obtained using the two adsorbates.NOTE1This test has not been designed for use with powderedactivated carbon,but it has been used successfully when the flow rate ortime are adjusted or the sample volume is decreased to keep the pressuredrop at an acceptable value.6.Apparatus6.1 Water Bath,capable of maintaining a temperature of 256 0.2C and of sufficient depth so that the entire carbon bed inthe sample tube is immersed in the water.6.2 Sample Tube,with the options shown in Fig.2.6.3 Flowmeter,capable of delivering butane at 0 to 500mL/min,calibrated in accordance with Practice D3195.6.4 Balance,capable of weighing to within 60.01 g.6.5 Fill DeviceThe vibration feed device used in TestMethod D2854.6.6 Apparatus Assembly,shown in Fig.3.7.Reagents7.1 n-Butane,C.P.Grade.(WarningButane is a flam-mable gas with a flash point of 138C and a boiling point of1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D28 onActivated Carbon and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D28.04 on GasPhase Evaluation Tests.Current edition approved June 1,2016.Published July 2016.Originally approvedin 1995.Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D5742 95(2015).DOI:10.1520/D5742-16.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 0.5C.Its specific gravity is 2.046 relative to air.Butane maybe narcotic in high concentrations and is considered a simpleasphyxiant.If the entire apparatus is not set up in a fume hood,provision must be made to vent the gas coming from thedischarge stem of the sample tube.)8.Sampling8.1 Refer to Practice E300 for guidance in sampling granu-lar activated carbon.9.Maintenance of Bath Water9.1 The bath water should be changed periodically in orderto prevent mold formation.10.Procedure10.1 Dry the sample using the procedure described in TestMethods D2867.10.2 Determine the apparent density in accordance with TestMethod D2854 and record.10.3 Accurately weigh the empty,dry sample