ASTMCOMMITTEEONACTIVATEDCARBOND-28.docVIP

ASTM ACTIVATED CARBON STANDARDS Summary: If you are a manufacturer, distributor, buyer or user of activated carbon media or products, you have undoubtedly seen the various terms and test methods used to specify activated carbon and seen the name ASTM and a test number listed as a standard reference such as Iodine number 900 minimum per ASTM D 4607. ASTM activated carbon standards are an important tool that allows manufacturers to have quality control test standards for production purposes and permits end-users to compare activated carbon products using such properties such as hardness, ash, activity, density, moisture, etc. that might have implications for their application or use of the activated carbon. This article reviews ASTM and specifically how the Committee on Activated Carbon, D-28, is structured and how activated carbon standards are developed. ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) was organized in 1898 and is a not-for-profit organization that provides a forum for the development and publication of standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Volunteers from academia, manufacturers, producers, consumers, and governmental agencies work under the guidance of ASTM staffers in technical committees to produce global standards that serve as documents for manufacturing, procurement, and regulatory activities. Approximately 80% of ASTM’s income comes from the sale of publications and standards produced by the committees and the other 20% comes from annual dues and administrative fees. There are approximately 130 technical committees staffed by over 30,000 volunteer members from more than 100 countries around the world. ASTM committees are not static, they merge, change, disband and evolve as technology and material changes occur. Technical committees can have many subcommittees related to the same type material such as the 11 subcommittees under A01 that cover various types of ferrous metals and propert