{"operation":"document","citation":"23-0058","title":"Carbochem Inc, — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2023-11-30","effective_on":null,"summary":"23-0058 response to Carbochem Inc, concerning 173.22.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-23-0058.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-23-0058.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-23-0058","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/78081/230058.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nNovember 30, 2023\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMr. Gavin Kahn\nPresident\nCarbochem Inc,\n308 East Lancaster Ave\nWynnewood, PA 19096\nReference No. 23-0058\nDear Mr. Kahn:\nThis letter is in response to your June 28, 2023, email pertaining to activated carbon transported\nin accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). In your\nemail, you note that chemically-activated carbon is often shipped as a Division 4.2\n(Spontaneously Combustible Material) material due to its self-heating properties. To determine\nthe classification of your product, you arranged for your Carbochem® activated carbon grades to\nbe tested using United Nations (UN) Test N.4 “Test method for self-heating substances,\n” in\naccordance with Section 33.3.1.6 of the UN Manual of Test and Criteria (UNMTC). You state\nthat the results of the testing—as provided in your email—indicate that Carbochem® DC-50\n(steam activated) exhibits no self-heating; while Carbochem® CA-50 (chemically activated)\nshows some self-heating, but not at 140 °C with a 25mm cube sample. You ask for confirmation\nthat your test results accurately determine that your Carbochem products should not be classified\nas Division 4.2 hazardous materials.\nIn accordance with § 173.22 of the HMR, it is the shipper's responsibility to properly classify a\nhazardous material. This Office generally does not perform this function. However, based on\nthe test data and certification you provided, we agree that your company’s products—as\ndescribed in your email—do not meet the definition of a Division 4.2 hazardous material.\nAccordingly, if your products do not meet any other hazard class as defined in part 173 of the\nHMR, and are not a hazardous substance, hazardous waste, or marine pollutant, they are not\nsubject to the HMR.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nAndrews\n23-0058\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nCc: Hazmat Interps\nSubject: FW: Letter of Interpretation Request for Activated Carbon\nDate: Friday, June 30, 2023 3:05:06 PM\nAttachments: image001.png\nSelf Heating test per UN N.4 using Procedure 33.3.1.6 2023.pdf\nSelf Heating Result for Test UN N.4 - Carbochem DC-50 2-23.pdf\nSelf Heating Result for Test UN N.4 - Carbochem CA-50 2-23.pdf\nImportance: High\nHello Alice,\nPlease see the below and attached interpretation requests.\nLet me know if you need anything else.\nRegards,\n-Breanna\nFrom: Gavin Kahn <Gavin.Kahn@carbochem.com>\nSent: Wednesday, June 28, 2023 9:54 AM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nCc: CARBOCHEM <HQ@carbochem.com>\nSubject: Letter of Interpretation Request for Activated Carbon\nImportance: High\nCAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do\nnot click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content\nis safe.\nTo Whom it May Concern:\nI have been working with Commissioner Carl Bentzel from the FMC regarding an issue with\nthe major shipping carriers that has been a problem for quite some time.\nBackground: Primary uses of Activated Carbon are purification of drinking water (Municipal\nwater treatment plants and beverage companies such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi) and\ndecolorizing food products such as sugar and other sweeteners, fruit juice, citric acid, MSG\netc. Obviously, the grades of Activated Carbon for these applications are all Food Grade\nquality.\nThe United Nations has classified Activated Carbon produced by Chemical Activation to be\na Division 4.2 material because it exhibits self-heating properties and thus UN1362 was\napplied to the product to designate this. The shipping lines used this as justification to\ncharge a freight premium on Activated Carbon as it was deemed dangerous cargo (also\npermitting the carrier s to cancel freight bookings at their whim). They also applied this\nclassification to Activated Carbon produced by Steam Activation which is not valid, so they\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\ncould benefit from greater revenues.\nWe arranged for a reputable laboratory with the necessary expertise to perform the self-\nhealing UN Test N.4 according to procedure Section 33.3.1.6, UN 2009 to determine if our\nactivated carbon products should be classified in Division 4.2. The results are attached for\nour specific Carbochem® grades which confirm that our activated carbon should not be\nclassified in Division 4.2. The conclusion is based on the following analysis (test method\nattached):\nCarbochem® DC-50 (coal based, steam activated carbon, acid washed): No self-\nheating detected for basic test at 140º C.\nCarbochem® CA-50 (wood based activated carbon, chemically activated): Self-\nheating detected at 140º C but not at 140º C with a 25 mm cube sample. Packing\nGroup II restriction not required as the packing size is less than 3 cubic meters\nvolume.\nWhile we cannot speak for other grades of Activated Carbon, our grades are produced with\nproprietary technology to ensure that they are exempt from Division 4.2 Classification, but\nthe shipping lines refuse to accept this.\nPlease advise how we can obtain a DOT/PHMSA letter of interpretation for clarification on\nthe federal process for classification of Activated Carbon.\nSincerely,\nGavin Kahn\nPresident\nCarbochem Inc,\n308 East Lancaster Ave\nWynnewood,\nPA 19096\nPhone: (610)645-9200\nFax: (610)645-5501\nE-Mail: Gavin.Kahn@carbochem.com\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nSUITE 218, LONDON, ON,\nADDRESS: 700 COLLIP CIRCLE,\nPHONE: (519) 777-5232\nN6G 4X8,\nCANADA\nLCS\nEMAIL: INFO@LCSLABORATORY.COM\nWEB: WWW.LCSLABORATORY.COM\nLABORATORY INC.\nCERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS\nClient:\nCarbochem Inc. 308 E.\nWork Order:\nPA 19096 USA\nLancaster Ave, Wynnewood\nDate Received:\n23MIS090\nJanuary 19, 2023\nDate Analyzed:\nDate Reported:\nJanuary 26-30, 2023\nFebruary 1, 2023\nRequested By:\nGavin Kahn\nAnalysis:\nSelf-Heating Test\nClient's\nSelf Heating Regulation per\nReference\nreference:\nUN\nUN Test N.4. Paragraph.\nProcedure:\n33.3.1.6, UN 2009\nSample Description: Powder Activated Carbon, CA50\nLaboratory sample ID: 23MIS090-SH1\nResults:\nSample Size\nOven\nMaximum Observed Sample\n(mm)\nTemperature (°C)\nObservations\nTemperature in the sample\nResult\ncore (°C)\n100 × 100 × 100\n140\n3041)\nNo smoke or\nSelf-Heating is\nsmoldering\ndetected\n25 × 25x25\n140\n140\nNo smoke or\nsmoldering\nSelf-Heating is\nnot detected\n100 × 100 x 100\n120\n124\nNo smoke or\nSelf-Heating is\nsmoldering\nnot detected\nComments:\n: 1) The test was ste Sed atter the positive set ignition\nUN defines positive Self Heating test in paragraph 33.3.1.6.4.1, as a test where the Maximum Observed Temperature in the\nsample core exceeds the oven temperature by 60°C.\nNote:\n• Test duration is 24 hours unless the sample shows the self-ignition properties\nAccuracy of the temperature reading is 1°C\nSample is tested in \"as received\" form\nTest results pertain only to analysis of samples herein reported.\nIct\nAnalyst:\nStepan Reut, Ph.D.\nReviewer:\nRaisa Stadnichenko, Ph.D.\nLCS Laboratory Inc.\nPage 1 of 1\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nSUITE 218, LONDON, ON,\nADDRESS: 700 COLLIP CIRCLE,\nPHONE: (519) 777-5232\nN 6G 4X8,\nCANADA\nLCS\nWEB: WWW.LCSLABORATORY.COM\nEMAIL: INFO@LCSLABORATORY.COM\nLABORATORY INC.\nCERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS\nClient:\nCarbochem Inc. 308 E.\nWork Order:\n23MIS090\nLancaster Ave, Wynnewood\nDate Received:\nPA 19096 USA\nJanuary 19, 2023\nDate Analyzed:\nJanuary 26-30, 2023\nDate Reported:\nFebruary 1, 2023\nRequested By:\nGavin Kahn\nAnalysis:\nSelf-Heating Test\nClient's\nreference:\nSelf Heating Regulation per\nUN\nReference\nProcedure:\nUN Test N.4. Paragraph.\n33.3.1.6, UN 2009\nSample Description: Granular Activated Carbon, DC50\nLaboratory sample ID: 23MIS090-SH2\nResults:\nSample Size\nOven\nMaximum Observed Sample\nObservations\nResult\n(mm)\nTemperature (°C)\nTemperature in the sample\ncore (°C)\n100 × 100 × 100\n140\n151\nNo smoke or\nSelf-Heating is\nsmoldering\nnot detected\nComments:\n• UN defines positive Self Heating test in paragraph 33.3.1.6.4.1, as a test where the Maximum Observed Temperature in the\nsample core exceeds the oven temperature by 60°C.\nNote:\n: Test duration is 24 hours unless the sample shows the self-ignition properties\nAccuracy of the temperature reading is 1°C.\n: Sample is tested in \"as received\" form\nTest results pertain only to analysis of samples herein reported.\nAnalyst:\nStepan Reut, Ph.D.\nReviewer:\nRaisa Stadnichenko, Ph.D.\nLCS Laboratory Inc.\nPage 1 of 1\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nCopyright © United Nations, 2009. All rights reserved\n33.3.1.6\nTest N.4: Test method for self-heating substances\n33.3.1.6.1\nIntroduction\nto air at temperatures of 100 °C, 120 °C or 140 °C in a 25mm or 100mm wire mesh cube.\nThe ability of a substance to undergo oxidative self-heating is determined by exposure of it\n33.3.1.6.2\nApparatus and materials\nThe following apparatus is required:\na)\na hot-air circulating type of oven with an inner volume of more than 9 litres and\ncapable of controlling the internal temperature at 100 °C, 120 °C or 140 °C + 2 °C;\ncubic sample containers of 25 mm and 100 mm side, made of stainless steel net with a\nmesh opening of 0.05 mm, with their top surface open; and\nc)\nChromel-Alumel thermocouples of 0.3 mm diameter; one placed in the centre of the\nsample and another between the sample container and the oven wall.\nmesh opening of 0.60 mm, and slightly larger than the sample container. In order to avoid the effect of air\nEach sample container should be housed in a cubic container cover made from a stainless steel net with a\nof 0.595 mm and 150 × 150 × 250 mm in size.\ncirculation, this cover is installed in a second stainless steel cage, made from a net with a mesh size\n33.3.1.6.3\nProcedure\nsample container and the container tapped several times. If the sample settles, more is added. If the sample is\nThe sample, powder or granular,\nin its commercial form, should be filled to the brim of the\nheaped it should be levelled to the brim. The container is housed in the cover and hung at the centre of the\nsample and of the oven should be recorded continuously. The first test' may be conducted with a 100 mm\noven. The oven temperature should be raised to 140 °C and kept there for 24 hours. The temperature of the\ncube sample. A positive result is obtained if spontaneous ignition occurs or if the temperature of the sample\nexceeds the oven temperature by 60 °C. If a negative result is obtained, no further test is necessary. If a\ndetermine whether or not packing group II should be assigned. If a positive result is obtained at 140 °C with\npositive result is obtained, a second test should be conducted at 140 °C with a 25mm cube sample to\nsubstance in a 100 mm sample cube should be performed:\nthe substance in a 100mm sample cube, but not a 25mm sample cube, then an additional test with the\n(a) At 120 °C if the substance is to be transported in packagings of more than 450 litre\nvolume but not more than 3 m' volume; or\n(b) At 100 °C if the substance is to be transported in packagings of not more\nthan 450 litres volume.\n33.3.1.6.4\nTest criteria and method of assessing results\n33.3.1.6.4.1\nsample exceeds the oven temperature by 60 °C during the 24 hour testing time. Otherwise, the result is\nA positive result is obtained if spontaneous ignition occurs or if the temperature of the\nconsidered negative.\nobtained using a 25 mm cube sample then, for safety and environmental protection, the first test may be\nThe tests may be performed in any order. For example, if it is expected that a positive result will be\nperformed with a 25 mm cube sample. If a positive result is obtained with a 25 mm cube sample then a test\nwith a 100 mm cube sample is not necessary.\n- 364 -\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nCopyright © United Nations, 2009. All rights reserved\n33.3.1.6.4.2\nA substance should not be classified in Division 4.2 if:\n(a)\nA negative result is obtained in a test using a 100mm cube sample at 140 °C;\n(b)\nnegative result is obtained in a test using a 25 mm cube sample at 140 °C, a negative\nA positive result is obtained in a test using a 100mm sample cube at 140 °C and a\nresult is obtained in a test using a 100mm cube sample at 120 °C and the substance is\nto be transported in packages with a volume not more than 3 m°;\n(C)\nnegative result is obtained in a test using a 25 mm cube sample at 140 °C, a negative\nA positive result is obtained in a test using a 100 mm sample cube at 140 °C and a\nresult is obtained in a test using a 100 mm cube sample at 100 °C and the substance is\nto be transported in packages with a volume not more than 450 litres.\n33.3.1.6.4.3\nPacking group Il should be assigned to self-heating substances which give a positive result in\na test using a 25mm sample cube at 140 °C.\n33.3.1.6.4.4\nPacking group III should be assigned to self-heating substances if:\n(a)\nnegative result is obtained in a test using a 25mm cube sample at 140 °C and the\nA positive result is obtained in a test using a 100mm sample cube at 140 °C and a\nsubstance is to be transported in packages with a volume of more than 3 m;\nA positive result is obtained in a test using a 100 mm sample cube at 140 °C and a\nnegative result is obtained in a test using a 25 mm cube sample at 140 °C, a positive\nto be transported in packages with a volume of more than 450 litres;\nresult is obtained in a test using a 100mm cube sample at 120 °C and the substance Is\n(c)\nA positive result is obtained in a test using a 100 mm sample cube at 140 °C and a\nnegative result is obtained in a test using a 25mm cube sample at 140 °C and a\npositive result is obtained in a test using a 100 mm cube sample at 100 °C.\n33.3.1.6.5\nExamples of results\nSubstance\nOven\nCube size\nMaximum\nResult\ntemperature\n(°C)\n(mm)\ntemperature\nreached (°C)\nCobalt/molybdenum catalyst\n140\n140\n100\n25\n>200\ngranules\n181\nP.G. III of 4.2ª\nManganese ethylene bis\n(dithiocarbamate) 80% (Maneb)\n140\n25\n> 200\nP.G. Il of 4.2\nManganese ethylene bis\n(dithiocarbamate) complex\nwith zinc salt 75% (Mancozeb)\n140\n25\n> 200\nP.G. Il of 4.2\nNickel catalyst granules\nwith 70% hydrogenated oil\n140\n100\n140\nNot 4.2\nNickel catalyst granules\n140\n100\n> 200\nwith 50% white oil\n140\n25\n140\nP.G. III of 4.2 a\nNickel/molybdenum catalyst\n140\n140\n100\n> 200\ngranules (spent)\n25\n150\nP.G. III of 4.2ª\nNickel/molybdenum catalyst\ngranules (passivated)\n140\n100\n161\nNot 4.2\nNickel/vanadium catalyst\nGranules\n140\n25\n> 200\nP.G. II of 4.2\nNot tested at 100 °C or 120 °C.\n- 365-\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\nCopyright © United Nations, 2009. All rights reserved\nFigure 33.3.1.3.3.1: CLASSIFICATION OF SELF-HEATING SUBSTANCES\nNEW SUBSTANCE\nthe substance undergo\nDoes\nNo\ndangerous self-heating when tested\nin a 100mm sample cube\nYes\nthe substance undergo\nDoes\ndangerous self-heating when tested\nYes\nin a 25 mm sample cube\nPacking Group /I*\nat 140 °C?\nNo\nthe substance undergo\nDoes\nNo\ndangerous self-heating when tested\nin a 100mm sample cube\nat 120 °C?\n• Yes\nthe substance undergo\nDoes\ndangerous self-heating when tested\nYes\nPacking Group I!I*\nin a 100mm sample cube\nat 100°C?\n- No\n→\nxempted if transported in package\nf not more than 450 litres volum\nof not more than 3 cubic metres volume\nExempted if transported in packages\nNot a self-heating substance\nof Division 4.2\n•\n*\nclassified in Division 4.2.\nSubstances with a temperature for spontaneous combustion higher than 50 °C for 27 m?' should not be\n- 361-\n\n<<<PAGE 9>>>","truncated":false,"body_characters":15414}