New regulations set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to mandate greenhouse gas reporting in the U.S. carbon black industry have led to the development of a new ASTM International standard, ASTM D7662, Test Method for Carbon Content in Carbon Black Feedstock Oils.

ASTM D7662 is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D24.66 on Environment, Health and Safety, part of ASTM International Committee D24 on Carbon Black.

Measuring the total carbon content of feedstock oils is an important step in calculating carbon dioxide emissions, estimating the yield of a process or assessing product quality. ASTM D7662 is applicable to most commercial feedstock oils used to produce carbon black products in a furnace or thermal process.

George Joyce, manager, Materials Analysis Laboratory, Columbian Chemicals Co., notes that carbon black producers, as well as contract laboratories, will be the primary users of ASTM D7662.

Earlier this year, D24.66 approved another standard to respond to requirements of the EPA regulations: D7633, Test Method for Carbon Black Carbon Content.

All interested participants are welcome to join in the activities of D24.66, particularly for the interlaboratory study programs for ASTM D7633 and ASTM D7662.

To purchase ASTM standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation number, or contact ASTM Customer Relations (phone: 610-832-9585; https://www.astm.org/contact/).  ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

ASTM Committee D24 Next Meeting: June 13-15, 2011, June Committee Week, Anaheim, Calif.
Technical Contact: George A. Joyce, Columbian Chemicals Co., Marietta, Ga., Phone: 770-792-9467; gjoyce@columbianchemicals.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Joe Koury, Phone: 610-832-9804; jkoury@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #8744