Legislation
Activated carbons are a class of chemicals presenting a wide range of applications in numerous industry and even medical sectors. Product regulatory approval exists in most of these areas.
Classification & Labelling
DSD/DPD
Activated carbons, of low or high density skeleton, are not classified as dangerous substances under neither EU directive 67/548/EC (Dangerous Substances) nor EU Directive 91/155/EC (Dangerous preparations), including their relevant amendments (respectively 2001/59/EC and 2001/60/EC).
GHS/CLP
With respect to regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 (CLP) and its amendments, activated carbons with HDS and some activated carbons with LDS is not classified as a dangerous substance.
Some activated carbons with a LDS are classified as follows:
A self-heating substance or mixture is a liquid or solid substance or mixture, other than a pyrophoric liquid or solid, which, by reaction with air and without energy supply, is liable to self-heat; this substance or mixture differs from a pyrophoric liquid or solid in that it will ignite only when in large amounts (kilograms) and after long periods of time (hours or days).
Some activated carbons are classified as a self-heating substance or mixture of category 2, because in the tests performed in accordance with the test method given in the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, sub-section 33.3.1.6; a positive result is obtained in a test using a 100 mm sample cube at 140°C and a negative result is obtained in a test using a 25 mm cube sample at 140°C and the substance or mixture is to be packed in packages with a volume of more than 3 m3.
Transport
In the ADR/RID regulation, steam activated carbon is not classified as a dangerous cargo, whereas chemically activated carbon is listed as UN Number:
1362; Class 4.2, S2, PGIII. In the IMDG and IATA regulations, both types of activated carbons are listed as UN Number: 1362; Class 4.2, S2, PGIII.
Nano
Activated Carbons do not fulfill the criteria established in the different definitions of nanomaterials provided by the existing Regulations. Some of the Regulations and Scientific guides that have been evaluated are:
- European Commission Recommendation for the definition of Nanomaterials, 2011/696/EU. It was intended to be applied as an overarching framework with regard to other EU regulations
- ISO Technical Committee (TC) 229 “Nanotechnologies”
- French decree, 2012-232 and articles from Code de l’Environnement L523-1 to L523-5
NB: Activated Carbons have been cited by ECHA has example of a substance which might be interpreted as a nanomaterial based on the VSSA criteria. They state that activated carbons have a high surface area but are not nanomaterials, instead they have highly porous structures.