This article provides a relatively complete activated carbon test method and product standards. It is convenient for readers to systematically check the relevant content and data. It is helpful for understanding and applying the standards. It has important guiding significance in regulating the market and enhancing the market competitiveness of China’s activated carbon enterprises.
China has leapt into the world’s largest producer and exporter of activated carbon. The activated carbon test method evaluates the product and unifies the test standards.
Including important GB/T such as “Test Methods for Wood Activated Carbon” and “Test Methods for Coal Activated Carbon”, as well as important foreign activated carbon standards such as ASTM, JIS, and AWWA.
Section 1 Chinese activated carbon standards
1.1Product standards
| NO. | Appellation |
|---|---|
| GB/T 7701.1 —2008 | Coal-based granular activated carbon for gas phase |
| GB/T 7701.2 —2008 | Coal-based granular activated carbon for water purification |
| GB/T 7701. 3 — 2008 | Coal-based granular activated carbon for carrier of medium granular activated carbon |
| GB/T 13803. 1 — 1999 | Granular activated carbon for wood-based MSG refining |
| GB/T 13803. 2 — 1999 | Activated carbon for wood-based water purification |
| GB/T 13803. 3 — 1999 | Activated carbon for decolorization of sugar solution |
| GB/T 13803. 4 — 1999 | Activated carbon for injection |
| GB/T 13803. 5 — 1999 | Activated carbon as catalyst carrier for vinyl acetate synthesis |
| GB/T 17664 — 1999 | Charcoal and charcoal test methods |
| GB/T 17665 — 1999 | Test method for adsorption of carbon tetrachloride vapor by wood granular activated carbon |
| GB/T 29215 — 2012 | National food safety standard Food additives Plant activity (wood activated carbon) |
| GB/T 26900 — 2011 | Bamboo charcoal for air purification |
| LY/T 1125 — 1993 | Granular activated carbon for gold extraction |
| LY/T 1281 — 1998 | Powdered activated carbon for monosodium glutamate |
| LY/T 1331 — 2014 | Silver-carrying activated carbon for water purification |
| LY/T 1581 — 2000 | Activated carbon for chemical reagents |
| LY/T 1582 — 2000 | Activated carbon for citric acid decolorization |
| LY/T 1615 — 2004 | Terminology of wood activated carbon |
| LY/T 1616 — 2004 | Conductivity determination method of activated carbon water extract |
| LY/T 1617 — 2004 | Activated carbon for double-layer capacitors |
| LY/T 1623 — 2004 | Activated carbon for decolorization of xylose solution |
| LY/T 1785 — 2008 | Granular activated carbon for decolorization of citric acid |
| LY/T 1971 — 2011 | Activated carbon for pressure swing adsorption refining of hydrogen |
| LY/T 13803.4 — 1999 | Activated carbon for injection |
1.2 Test methods for wood activated carbon
| NO. | Appellation |
|---|---|
| GB 32560 — 2016 | Classification and naming of activated carbon |
| GB/T 124 96. 1 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of apparent density |
| GB/T 124 96.2 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of particle size distribution |
| GB/T 124 96. 3 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of ash content |
| GB/T 12496.4 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of moisture content |
| GB/T 12496.5 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of carbon tetrachloride adsorption rate (activity) |
| GB/T 12496.6 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of strength |
| GB/T 12496.7 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of pH value |
| GB/T 12496.8 — 2015 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of iodine adsorption value |
| GB/T 12496.9 — 2015 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of caramel decolorization rate |
| GB/T 12496. 10 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of methylene blue adsorption value |
| GB/T 12496. 11 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of quinine sulfate adsorption value |
| GB/T 12496. 12 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of phenol adsorption value |
| GB/T 12496. 13 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of uncarbonized matter |
| GB/T 12496. 14 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of cyanide |
| GB/T 12496. 15 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of sulfide |
| GB/T 12496.16 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of chloride |
| GB/T 12496.17 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of sulfate |
| GB/T 124 96.18 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of acid soluble matter |
| GB/T 124 96.19 — 2015 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of iron content |
| GB/T 124 96.20 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of zinc content: |
| GB/T 124 96.21 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of calcium and magnesium content |
| GB/T 124 96.22 — 1999 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of heavy metals |
| GB/T 12496.23 — 2016 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of formaldehyde adsorption rate |
| GB/T 124 96.24 — 2016 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of toluene adsorption rate |
| GB/T 20449 — 2006 | Test method for butane working capacity of activated carbon |
| GB/T 204 50 — 2006 | Test method for ignition point of activated carbon |
| GB/T 20451 — 2006 | Test method for strength of activated carbon by ball-disc method |
| LY/T 786 — 2008 | Determination method for tannic acid adsorption value of activated carbon |
| LY/T 2615 — 2016 | Test method for wood activated carbon Determination of lead content Atomic absorption spectrometry |
1.3 Test methods for coal-based activated carbon
| NO. | Appellation |
|---|---|
| GB/T 7702. 1 — 1997 | Test method for granular activated carbon from coal Determination of moisture |
| GB/T 7702. 2 — 1997 | Test method for granular activated carbon from coal Determination of particle size |
| GB/T 7702. 3 — 2008 | Test method for granular activated carbon from coal Determination of strength |
| GB/T 7702. 4 — 1997 | Test method for granular activated carbon from coal Determination of packing density |
| GB/T 7702. 5 — 1997 | Test method for granular activated carbon from coal Determination of water content |
| GB/T 7702. 6 — 2008 | Test method for granular activated carbon from coal Determination of methylene blue adsorption value |
| GB/T 7702. 7 — 2008 | Test method for granular activated carbon from coal Determination of iodine adsorption value |
| GB/T 7702. 8 — 2008 | Test method for granular activated carbon from coal Determination of phenol adsorption value |
| GB/T 7702. 9 — 2008 | Test method for coal-based granular activated carbon Determination of ignition point |
| GB/T 7702. 10 — 2008 | Test method for coal-based granular activated carbon Determination of protection time for benzene vapor and ethyl chloride vapor |
| GB/T 7702. 13 — 1997 | Test method for coal-based granular activated carbon Determination of carbon tetrachloride adsorption rate |
| GB/T 7702. 14 — 2008 | Test method for coal-based granular activated carbon Determination of sulfur capacity |
| GB/T 7702. 15 — 2008 | Test method for coal-based granular activated carbon Determination of ash content |
| GB/T 7702. 16 — 1997 | Test method for coal-based granular activated carbon Determination of pH value |
| GB/T 7702. 17 — 1997 | Test method for coal-based granular activated carbon Determination of floating rate |
| GB/T 7702. 18 — 2008 | Test method for coal-based granular activated carbon Determination of caramel decolorization rate |
| GB/T 7702. 19 — 2008 | Test method for coal-based granular activated carbon Determination of carbon tetrachloride desorption rate |
| GB/T 7702. 20 — 2008 | Test method for coal-based granular activated carbon Determination of pore volume and specific surface area |
| MT/T 996 — 2006 | Test method for butane working capacity of activated carbon |
| MT/T 1155 — 2011 | Determination method for semi-dechlorination value of granular activated carbon |
Section 2 Foreign activated carbon standards
The activated carbon testing items abroad are different from those in China. The testing items of the American ASTM, American ANSI/AWWA, Japanese JIS, Japanese JWWA, and French NF EN standards have their own focuses.
From the development trend, the standards of various countries tend to move closer to ASTM. In order to facilitate Chinese readers to read, the names of foreign standards are translated into Chinese. Readers who need foreign languages can also find the original text according to the standard number.
2.1 ASTM International Standards
| NO. | Appellation |
|---|---|
| ASTM D2652 — 2011 | Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon |
| ASTM D2854 — 2009(2014) | Test Method for Surface Density of Activated Carbon |
| ASTM D2862 — 2010 | Test Method for Particle Size Distribution of Granular Activated Carbon |
| ASTM D2866 — 1994(2014) | Test Method for Total Ash Content of Activated Carbon |
| ASTM D3466 — 2006(2011) | Test Method for Ignition Temperature of Granular Activated Carbon |
| ASTM D3467 1994 | Test Method for Adsorption of Carbon Tetrachloride by Activated Carbon |
| ASTM D3687 — 2007(2012) | Standard Practice for Analysis of Organic Compound Vapors Collected by Activated Carbon Tube Adsorption |
| ASTM D3802 — 2010 | Test Method for Strength of Activated Carbon by Ball-on-Disk Method |
| ASTM D3838 — 2005(2011) | Test Method for pH of Activated Carbon |
| ASTM D3860 — 1998(2014) | Practice for Determining the Water Absorption of Activated Carbon by the Aqueous Phase Isotherm Technique |
| ASTM D4069 — 1995(2014) | Specification for Impregnated Activated Carbon for Removal of Gaseous Radioiodine from Gas Streams |
| ASTM D4607 — 2014 | Test Method for Determining the Iodine Number of Activated Carbon |
| ASTM D5160 — 1995(2008) | Guide for Testing Activated Carbon for Gas Phase Adsorption |
| ASTM D5832 — 1998(2003) | Standard Test Method for Determining the Reactive Volatile Matter in Activated Carbon Samples |
| ASTM D5919 — 1996(2001) | Standard Practice for Determining the Adsorption Capacity of Activated Carbon by the Microisotherm Technique of Adsorbates at ppb Concentrations |
| ASTM D6646 — 2003(2014) | Test Method for Determining the Accelerated Hydrogen Sulfide Thru-Capacity of Granular and Pelletized Activated Carbon |
| ASTM D6851 — 2002(2007) | Test Method for Determination of PH in Contact with Activated Carbon |
| ASTM El412 — 2012 | Practice for Separation of Combustible Liquid Residues from Fire Residues by Passive Headspace Concentration Using Activated Carbon |
| ASTM El568 — 2013 | Test Method for Determination of Gold in Activated Carbon by Fire Assay |
| ASTM UOP802 — 1980 | Attrition of Activated Carbon Particles |
2.2 JIS/JWWA Standards
JIS K8625 — 2006 Sodium carbonate
JIS K1474 — 2007 Test methods for activated carbon
JIS K0050 — 2011 General rules for chemical analysis of activated carbon
JWWA Al14 — 2006 Granular activated carbon for waterways
2.3 ANSI/AWWA Standards
ANSI/AWWA B600 — 2010 Standard for Powdered Activated Carbon
ANSI/AWWA B6O4 — 2012 Standard for Granular Activated Carbon
ANSI/AWWA B6O5 — 2007 Regenerated Granular Activated Carbon
2.4 Korean Standard
KS M 1210 — 1986 Granular activated carbon
KS M 1421 — 2008 Test methods for powdered activated carbon
2.5 German Standard
DIN EN 12915 — 2 Products for the treatment of water intended for human consumption Granular activated carbon Part 2: Reactivated granular activated carbon
2.6 French Standard
NF EN 12915-1 — 2003 Products suitable for the treatment of water for human consumption Granular activated carbon Part 1: Freshly produced granular activated carbon
2.7 Russian Standard
ROCT Wood Powdered Activated Carbon Technical Requirements
Section 3 Other industries related to activated carbon standards
| NO. | Appellation |
|---|---|
| GB/T 16143 — 1995 | Activated carbon test method for radon exhalation rate on building surfaces |
| WJ 2250 — 1994 | Verification procedures for activated carbon specific surface area measuring instrument |
| WJ 2252 — 1994 | Verification procedures for activated carbon and impregnated carbon protective performance test equipment |
| WJ 2253 — 1994 | General specification for impregnated activated carbon standard material |
| EJ/T 824 — 1994 | Activated carbon adsorption radon daughter r measuring instrument |
| GJ/B 1468 — 1992 | General specification for military activated carbon and impregnated activated carbon |
| ZB G13 OOI — 1988 | Activated carbon as catalyst carrier for vinyl acetate synthesis |
| ZB G13 002 — 1988 | Activated carbon for injection |
| HG/T 3 1290—1980 | Activated carbon |
| HG/T 3391 — 1999 | Activated carbon for chemical reagents |
| HG/T 3922 — 2006 | Activated carbon fiber felt |
| ZB G13001 — 1988 | Activated carbon for vinyl acetate synthesis catalyst carrier |
| ZB G13002 — 1988 | Activated carbon for injection |
| ASTM D2866 — 2011 | Test method for total ash content of activated carbon |
| DL/T 582 — 2016 | Guidelines for the use of activated carbon for water treatment in power plants |
| FORD WSS-M99G117-C3 — 1997 | High adsorption activated carbon, spherical activated carbon Ford Standard |
Section 4 Prospects for Activated Carbon Standardization
4.1 Standardization of activated carbon industry
4.1.1 Establish a self-declaration, disclosure and supervision system for corporate product and service standards
The establishment of a self-declaration disclosure and supervision system for enterprise product and service standards is a reform of the current enterprise standard filing system, a change in the management mode of enterprise product standards, and an important manifestation of streamlining administration and delegating power. It is divided into three stages.
The first stage (2015): Establish a leading group and working body, determine the management mechanism, and clarify the work goals and tasks;
The second stage (2016): Carry out pilot work in specific industries and specific fields;
The third stage (2017): Fully implement the self-declaration disclosure and supervision system for enterprise product and service standards, and then the enterprise standard filing will be cancelled.
4.1.2 Establish a public platform for self-declaration of enterprise standards
In order to implement the self-declaration and disclosure of enterprise product and service standards, the National Standardization Administration has specially established the official website of the National Enterprise Product Standard Information Public Service Platform (http://www.cpbz.gov.cn/)
4.1.3 Implementing self-declaration and disclosure of enterprise product standards
Enterprises are encouraged to formulate enterprise standards that are higher than the national standards, industry standards or local standards for pilot products. Enterprise products implement enterprise standards. Upload the following content:
(1) XXXX (enterprise) self-commitment letter.
(2) Basic information of the enterprise: organization name, legal representative, organization code, postal code, registered address, administrative division.
(3) Enterprise standard information: name and standard number of the enterprise standard implemented by the enterprise’s products, and public content (enterprise standard text).
(4) Currently, there are 89 self-declarations of activated carbon enterprise product standards on the platform.
4.2 Development trend of activated carbon standardization
4.2.1 Strengthen the formulation and revision of activated carbon standards related to human health and ecological environment safety
① Civilian activated carbon products.
② Activated carbon for environmental protection.
③ Activated carbon for water treatment.
④ Activated carbon for soil remediation.
⑤ Medical activated carbon.
4.2.2 Strengthen the development of discriminative standards for activated carbon traceability and counterfeit identification
① Identification of coal quality and wood activated carbon.
② Identification of regenerated activated carbon.
③ Traceability of activated carbon raw materials.
4.2.3 Strengthen the development of basic, comprehensive and public welfare standards
①Method standards.
②Clean production procedures.
③Energy consumption standards.
4.2.4 Vigorously develop association group standards
① Product standards.
② Industry regulations
