This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: E872 − 82 (Reapproved 2019)

Standard Test Method for

Volatile Matter in the Analysis of Particulate Wood Fuels1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E872; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 3. Summary of Test Method

1.1 This test method determines the percentage of gaseous 3.1 Volatile matter is determined by establishing the loss in
products, exclusive of moisture vapor, in the analysis sample of weight resulting from heating wood under rigidly controlled
particulate wood fuel that is released under the specific conditions. The measured weight loss, corrected for moisture
conditions of the test. The particulate wood fuel may be as determined in Test Method E871, establishes the volatile
sanderdust, sawdust, pellets, green tree chips, hogged fuel, or matter content.
other type particulate wood fuel having a maximum particle
4. Significance and Use
volume of 16.39 cm3 (1 in.3). Volatile matter, when determined
as herein described, may be used to indicate yields on 4.1 The test procedures described in this test method can be
processes to provide the basis for purchasing and selling or to used to determine the percentage of gaseous products, exclu-
establish burning characteristics. sive of moisture vapor, of any particulate wood fuel meeting
the requirements specified in this test method.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information 5. Apparatus
only. 5.1 Platinum Crucible, with closely fitting cover, or a
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the nickel-chromium crucible, with closely fitting cover, pre-fired
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the to oxidize and stabilize the weight. The crucible shall be of not
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- less than 10 or more than 20 mL capacity, not less than 25 or
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- more than 35 mm in diameter, and not less than 30 or more
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. than 35 mm in height.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor- 5.2 Vertical Electric Tube Furnace—The furnace may be of
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- the form shown in Fig. 1. It shall be regulated to maintain a
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the temperature of 950 6 20 °C in the crucible, as measured by a
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- thermocouple positioned in the furnace.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. 6. Procedure
6.1 Sampling:
2. Referenced Documents 6.1.1 Place of Sampling—Take sample where wood is being
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 loaded into or unloaded from means of transportation or when
D346 Practice for Collection and Preparation of Coke discharged from storage bins or conveyors.
Samples for Laboratory Analysis NOTE 1—Samples collected from the surface of piles are, in general,
D2013 Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Analysis unreliable because of the exposure to the environment. If necessary,
E871 Test Method for Moisture Analysis of Particulate collect nine increments from a foot or more below the surface at nine
Wood Fuels points covering the pile.
6.1.2 Collection of Gross Sample:
6.1.2.1 Collect increments regularly, systematically, and
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E48 on with such frequency that the entire quantity of wood sampled
Bioenergy and Industrial Chemicals from Biomass and is the direct responsibility of will be represented proportionally in the gross sample.
Subcommittee E48.05 on Biomass Conversion.
Current edition approved April 1, 2019. Published April 2019. Originally 6.1.2.2 The quantity of the sample shall be large enough to
approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as E872 – 82(2013). DOI: be representative but not less than 10 kg (22 lb).
10.1520/E0872-82R19.
2
6.1.2.3 Place samples in an airtight container immediately
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
after collection. Maintain samples in the airtight container
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on whenever possible to prevent gains or losses in moisture from
the ASTM website. the atmosphere.

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 E872 − 82 (2019)

FIG. 1 Electric Furnace for Determining Volatile Matter

6.1.3 Sample reduction may be done by two methods, a tinue the operations until the sample is reduced sufficiently so
coning and dividing process, or by using a riffle. Mixing, that one quarter weighs about 50 g (0.11 lb). This shall
coning, and quartering are described and illustrated in Practice constitute a laboratory sample.
D346. 6.1.3.2 Riffle reduction is accomplished by using a standard
6.1.3.1 Coning and dividing reduction is accomplished by coal riffle. The gross sample is riffled repeatedly until one half
placing the gross sample on a sheet of rubber or oil cloth. of the riffle sample equals about 50 g (0.11 lb) which will
Thoroughly mix it by raising first one corner of the cloth and constitute a laboratory sample. Riffles and procedures are
then the other. After mixing, cone and quarter sample. Con- described in Practice D2013.

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 E872 − 82 (2019)
6.2 Reduce the sample to a smaller particle size by use of allow it to cool in a desiccator. Weigh the covered crucible with
cutting or shearing type laboratory mill. The final product sample as soon as cold to the nearest 0.1 mg and record as final
should pass through a 1 mm or smaller screen. Depending on weight, Wf.
the specific product this step may involve more than one stage NOTE 2—Inspection of the crucible may be aided by the use of a mirror
of reduction, that is, passing the sample through a mill with a held above the furnace well.
larger size screen first and then milled to pass the final screen.
7. Calculation
Minimum atmospheric exposure is recommended and the
milling process should be conducted to avoid significant 7.1 Calculate the weight loss percent as follows:
moisture means to ensure thorough intermix of heavy fines and Weight loss, % 5 100 3 ~ W i 2 W f ! / ~ W i 2 W c ! 5 A (1)
milled fluff. where:
6.3 Weigh the crucible and cover to the nearest 0.01 g and Wc = weight of crucible and cover, g,
record as crucible weight, Wc. Place approximately 1 g of Wi = initial weight, g, and
sample in the crucible, cover, weigh the crucible, cover, and Wf = final weight, g.
sample to the nearest 0.01 g, and record as initial weight, Wi. 7.2 Calculate the volatile matter percent in the analysis
6.4 Place the covered crucible with sample on platinum or samples as follows:
nickel-chromium wire supports and insert directly into the Volatile matter in analysis sample, % 5 A 2 B (2)
furnace chamber, which shall be maintained at a temperature of where:
950 6 20 °C, and lower immediately to the 950 °C zone.
A = weight loss %, and
Regulation of the temperature to within the prescribed limits is B = moisture, %, as determined using Test Method E871.
critical. After the more rapid discharge of volatile matter has
subsided as shown by the disappearance of the luminous flame, 8. Precision and Bias
inspect the crucible (Note 2) to verify the lid is still properly 8.1 The following criteria should be used for judging the
seated. If necessary, reseat the lid to guard against the admis- acceptability of results:
sion of air into the crucible. Do this as rapidly as possible by 8.1.1 Repeatability—Duplicate results by the same labora-
raising the crucible to the top of the furnace chamber, reposi- tory should not be considered suspect unless they differ by
tion the lid as described in Practice D2013 to more perfectly more than 0.3 %.
seal the crucible, then lower immediately back to the 950 °C 8.1.2 Reproducibility—The results submitted by two or
zone. After heating for a total of exactly 7 min, remove the more laboratories should not be considered suspect unless they
crucible from the furnace and, without disturbing the cover, differ by more than 1.0 %.

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