In certain applications, such as acid purification, acidic food or chemical purification or decolorization, or other applications wherein iron may be leached out of the carbon, the use of acid-washed carbons will reduce or eliminate color pickup in the effluent or in the product. The acid soluble iron content is usually specified by the carbon supplier to prevent unacceptable levels of iron leach occurring.

Detection limits, sensitivity, and optimum ranges will vary with the models of atomic absorption spectrophotometers. General instrumental parameters are as follows:

Iron hollow cathode lamp.

Wavelength: 248.3 nm.

Fuel: acetylene (high purity).

Oxidant: air (from compressed air line, laboratory compressor, or a cylinder of compressed airall need to be clean and dry).

Type of flame: oxidizing.

The following lines may also be used:

The method, as written, is intended for carbons having an acid soluble iron content of 0.0030 to 0.050 % For carbons having higher iron contents, larger dilutions or smaller aliquots may be used.

The user should validate that there are no interferences from other metals in the sample matrix.

To prevent erroneous results, the user should ensure that no iron instruments contact any of the sample or the solutions used in this procedure. Only glass, ceramics, or plastic should be allowed to contact the sample or solutions.

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the acid soluble iron content of granular and powdered activated carbons, using an atomic absorption spectroscopy method by direct aspiration. Hydrochloric acid is used to extract the iron. This test method is not directly usable to determine the total iron concentration of a sample.

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. For a specific hazard statement, see Section 8.