Standard Test Method for
Nuclear-Grade Activated Carbon1

This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3803; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. 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 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.

2. Referenced Documents

2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water2
D 2652 Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon3

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