The quality of activated carbon significantly impacts performance across different applications. From gold recovery, water purification, gas treatment, to food processing & pharma purification, the right activated carbon grade can make all the difference. To ensure consistency, safety, and performance, manufacturers and users rely on international testing standards that define the quality of activated carbon. This blog is a complete guide to key activated carbon testing standards to help you evaluate the quality of carbon for your specific application.
Importance of Activated Carbon Testing Standards
Activated carbon testing standards measure some of the key properties, such as iodine number, hardness, ash content, moisture, bulk density, pore structure, particle size, and adsorption performance. The most widely used is AWWA (American Water Works Association) for granular & powder activated carbon, ASTM, ISO, BIS, GMP Certification and other industry-specific protocols. At Western Adsorbents & Catalysts, as a global reconized manufacturer of activated charcoal, we help our clients select the right carbon grade for critical applications.
Why Activated Carbon Testing Standards Matter
It is important to understand that every activated carbon varies in terms of:
➤ Raw material (coconut shell, coal & wood)
➤ Activation method
➤ Purity
➤ Granule strength
➤ Pore distribution
Testing standards ensure:
➤ Assurance of adsorption capability
➤ Consistency across different batches
➤ Safety for pharma, food & environmental use
Key Activated Carbon Testing Standards Explained
Iodine Number (ASTM D4607)
➤ What This Standard Measures: Micropore structure and overall adsorption capacity
➤ Why it Matters: Higher iodine number = higher ability to adsorb low molecular weight impurities.
➤ Typical Value: 800 to 1200 mg/g as per the specific application.
Hardness Number (ASTM D3802)
➤ What This Standard Measures: The mechanical strength & resistance to abrasion.
➤ Why it Matters: It prevents carbon loss and fines generation during handling.
➤ Needed for: Gold recovery, water filtration and gas purification applications.
Ash Content
➤ What This Standard Measures: Inorganic residue remaining after carbonization.
➤ Why it Matters: The higher ash content blocks the pores & reduces adsorption efficiency.
➤ Ideal Range: 1 to 2%
Moisture Content
➤ What This Standard Measures: The amount of water & moisture content.
➤ Why it Matters: A High amount of moisture reduces the adsorption capacity
Bulk Density (ASTM D2854)
➤ What This Standard Measures: Carbon mass per unit volume
➤ Why it Matters: It significantly impacts filter design, contact time, and adsorption performance.
Particle Size Distribution (ASTM D2826)
➤ What This Standard Measures: The percentage of carbon within each of the mesh sizes
➤ Why it Matters: The uniform particle size ensures:
➤ Proper flow
➤ Reduced pressure drop
➤ Efficient adsorption
Pore Size Distribution
➤ What This Standard Measures: Macropore, mesopore, micropore percentages.
➤ Why it Matters: Different applications require different pore structures. For instance:
➤ Micropores are most suited for organic chemicals
➤ Mesopores are best for colour removal
➤ Macropores for gold recovery
Global Activated Carbon Testing Standards
#1 ASTM Standards
➤ Covers: Iodine, ash, moisture, density, particle size
#2 AWWA Standards (Water Purity)
➤ This testing method is for drinking water standard, ensuring low contaminants, high-purity & safe leaches.
#3 ISO (Global Standards)
➤ Covers: Surface area, adsorption properties and pore size
#4 BIS Standards
➤ BIS IS 2752 (Granular Activated Carbon) for water treatment
➤ BIS IS 8366 (Powdered Activated Carbon) for water treatment
➤ Covers: Iodine number, hardness & ash content.
#5 Industry-specific Protocol
➤ These standards apply to applications including gold mining, food/beverages, pharma, air purification, etc.
Wrapping Up
Activated carbon testing standards ensure that every carbon grade delivers the performance, safety, and reliability required for industrial, environmental, and high-purity applications. At Western Adsorbents & Catalysts, as an activated carbon manufacturer in India deliver accurately tested, application-specific activated carbon that performs consistently in demanding conditions. Choose from a comprehensive range of activated carbon products tailored for your specific applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
➤ Do different industries follow different standards?
Yes. Food, pharma, gold mining, and water treatment each have specialized test requirements.
➤ What is the Indian standard for activated carbon?
Activated carbons are covered under a separate Indian Standard, namely IS 2752: 1989.
➤ How to check the quality of activated carbon?
Iodine number and hardness are the most important quality parameters to determine the quality of activated carbon.
Reference: https://heycarbons.com/activated-carbon-testing-standards/