Health, Safety & Environment

Some activated carbons, even if they are not classified as Dangerous Substances, exist in a powder form. Therefore, breathing this dust should be avoided, as well as contact with skin and eyes, formation and spread of dust in the air. To crush the product is strongly inadvisable.

Furthermore, activated carbons absorbs oxygen from air, reducing oxygen available for breathing, so confined spaces should not be entered unless they are adequately ventilated.

The usual procedures for handling all chemicals should also be followed.

For storage, large flexible bulk containers, paper bags, aluminium or steel for road tankers are recommended.

Activated carbons are to be store protected from moisture (to maintain the technical properties of the product) and away from solvents (possibility of adsorption of their fumes/vapours by activated carbon) and powerful oxidants.

Incompatible materials to be avoided are liquid oxygen, ozone and powerful oxidants which can lead to rapid combustion.

Exposure limits

No specific exposure limits have been established for activated carbons. For powders, general dust exposure limits according to national regulations (typically from 1 to 10 mg/m3) will apply.

Fire precautions

Activated carbons are combustible and may self heat under certain conditions. Storage at elevated temperatures or in direct sunlight may contribute to spontaneous combustion of this product. Storage at high ambient temperature may exacerbate the self-heating tendency. Carbon oxides might be released during combustion of the product. Activated carbons have no oxidising properties.

Water hazard regulations

Activated carbons are not subject to water hazard regulations. In fact, insoluble in aqueous solution, the product can be separated by filtration or sedimentation.

Waste disposal

If in its original state, activated carbons have to be disposed of following local and national regulations concerning this kind of products. If the activated carbon has been used, it has to be disposed of according to the type of dangerous substance adsorbed on the product. This should be done at an approved waste disposal site only, and following adequate regulations.

Water solubility

The study on the solubility in water of the test substance showed that the concentration in solution is below the detection limit of the analytical method (< 0.5 mg TOC/l). The results confirmed the empirical knowledge that activated coal is not soluble in water at all, nor is it soluble in other solvents.

Biodegradability

Activated carbons are refractory materials and not amenable to break down by any natural chemical or enzymatic processes. Activated carbon is only broken down under extreme conditions – such as heating under reflux with concentrated sulphuric acid/nitric acid mixtures – when the carbon will eventually oxidise to CO2. Activated carbon cannot be rendered into a soluble form capable of being absorbed. Therefore, activated carbon cannot find its way to any cell site where it could conceivably be biodegraded. Moreover, testing is not feasible because the substance is not soluble in water.

Partition coefficient/bioaccumulation potential

The substance has no log Kow (substance is an inorganic substance or can be considered to behave as an inorganic substance) and its particles are not soluble in water. Also the substance size will hamper passing membranes as the substance consists of particles with sizes > 0.5 μm.

Environmental distribution

Activated carbons cannot be rendered into a soluble form capable of being absorbed. Adsorption/desorption studies are technically not feasible as the substance is not soluble in water or in organic solvents; and analysis is not possible because no distinction between C of activated carbons and C of sediment/soil can be made in the analysis. Furthermore activated carbons consist largely of elemental carbon and are chemically inert. No further abiotic degradation or biodegradation will occur.