EU REACH testing process for calcined petroleum coke
Date：2025-09-16 09:53:39 Classification
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REACH is the European Union's regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). It is a proposed regulation covering the safety of chemical production, trade, and use. This complete testing process and key considerations for EU REACH testing of calcined petroleum coke are compiled based on EU regulatory requirements and practical experience, with authoritative sources as references:
I. Core Requirements for REACH Testing
1. Scope of Application
- Calcined petroleum coke is an industrial raw material and is subject to the control requirements for "articles" or "chemical substances" under REACH.
- Key Testing Areas:
- SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) Screening: The list will increase to 235 items by 2025, with a focus on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals (lead, cadmium, etc.), and benzene derivatives.
- Restricted Substance Compliance: For example, the limit for benzo[a]pyrene (≤0.1 mg/kg) in REACH Annex XVII.
2. Special Risks of Calcined Coke
- High-temperature calcination may produce PAH residues (16 EU-regulated items must be tested);
- Raw material impurities may lead to heavy metal enrichment (such as vanadium and nickel).
II. Testing Process
Phase 1: Preliminary Preparation
| Project | Specific Requirements
| Sample Requirements | Provide a 1kg representative sample (must indicate batch number, calcination temperature, and raw material source)
| Document Preparation | Chemical Safety Data Sheet (SDS), production process description, supply chain information
Phase 2: Laboratory Testing
A [Sample Pretreatment] --> B [Testing by Material Classification]
B --> | Metallic Impurities | C [ICP-MS for Heavy Metals]
B --> | Organic Contaminants | D [GC-MS for PAHs/SVHCs]
C --> E [Data Integration and Analysis]
D --> E
E --> F [Does the Standard Exceed?] }}
F -->|No|G[Issue Compliance Report]
F -->|Yes|H[Recommendation for Corrective Action]
- Test Item Priority:
1. SVHC Screening (235 items, focus: benzo[a]pyrene, chromates);
2. Heavy Metal Leaching (8 items, including lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic);
3. Physical Property Analysis: Ash, Volatile Matter (affects chemical stability).
Phase 3: Compliance Determination and Notification
- Notification Trigger Conditions:
- SVHC Concentration > 0.1% (by weight) and Annual Export Volume > 1 ton.
- Report Output:
- The laboratory will issue an English-language REACH test report (Dezewei CNAS Registration Number: L8083).
III. Key Considerations
1. Sample Authenticity Risk
- Calcined coke from different oil sources requires batch testing (e.g., Middle Eastern crude oil vs. South American crude oil may have significant impurity differences).
- If used for electrode materials, additional testing of chemical changes during the graphitization process is required.
2. Cost and Cycle Optimization
- Cost Reference: Approximately ¥5,000–8,000 (due to the high cost of PAHs testing).
- Expedited Service: A 40% surcharge can reduce the turnaround time to 7 business days.
3. Common Causes of Failure
- Exceeding PAH limits: Optimize calcination temperature (>1300°C can reduce PAH residues).
- Heavy Metal Migration: Add vanadium removal to raw material pretreatment.
IV. Subsequent Compliance Management
- Dynamic Tracking: The SVHC list is updated semi-annually (subscribe to reminders on the ECHA official website).
- Supply Chain Collaboration: Require crude oil suppliers to provide REACH compliance declarations to reduce re-inspection costs.
Important Note:
If calcined coke is used to produce lithium battery anode materials, it must also comply with the additional nickel and cobalt restrictions in the EU Battery Regulation. For the latest regulatory updates, it is recommended to consult a professional organization (such as an ECHA-authorized laboratory).
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