PAK in Carbon Black

Advanced Analysis of PAHs in Carbon Blacks Expertly Handled by mas for Carbon Black Manufacturers Worldwide.

This expertise has resulted in a publication in Rubber Chemistry and Technology titled "Investigations on the Extraction and Migration Behaviour of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) from Cured Rubber Formulations Containing Carbon Black as Reinforcing Agent" from the year 2009.

Dr. Stephan Hamm (mas) and his co-authors from Evonik Degussa GmbH in Germany, Columbian Carbon Europe SRL in Italy, and CABOT in Belgium have contributed their expertise to this pioneering work in PAH analytics. 

This publication has been followed up with a report on Rubber Chemistry and Technology, (2018), “Unsuitability of the ZEK/AfPS test method for the determination of Polycyclic aromatic Hydrocarbons in carbon black”.

This paper compiles investigations of industrial carbon blacks for PAHs using ultrasonic-based extraction and GC/MS detection according to the AfPS method intended for the products, compared to carbon black-specific extractions using a Soxhlet extractor.

The method according to AfPS 2019:01 PAH specification was established for the determination of 18 PAHs in products for GS certification (formerly ZEK 01.4-08 method), but is occasionally also used for determining PAHs in carbon blacks. The studies clearly show that the ultrasonic-based AfPS method is NOT suitable for industrial carbon blacks, especially for checking PAH limit values.

The study was commissioned by the ICBA - International Carbon Black Association, New Orleans, USA. The article appeared in the journal Rubber Chemistry and Technology, Vol. 91, No. 1.

• 22 FDA-PAHs in carbon black pigments for food contact materials according to US CFR § 178.3297 (FDA)
• 18 PAHs in rubber and plastic parts according to AfPS GS 2019:01 PAH for the GS mark
• Industrial carbon black according to ASTM D 7771 and ASTM D8143