UOP 954-11 PDF

Full title and description

UOP 954-11 — Loss on Ignition (LOI) for Fresh, Regenerated, Used, and Spent Catalysts, Catalyst Supports, and Adsorbents. This method specifies a controlled ignition procedure in air (fixed temperature and time) to determine mass loss on ignition for catalysts, supports and adsorbents of various shapes and sizes, including fines; results are quantitative down to about 0.1 mass‑% and include any components volatilized at the selected ignition temperature (for example carbon, halogens, etc.).

Abstract

UOP 954-11 defines a laboratory procedure (muffle furnace ignition in air) to measure Loss on Ignition (LOI) for fresh, regenerated, used and spent catalytic materials and adsorbents. The method explains selection of ignition temperature and time, treatment of fines and shaped bodies, and interpretation of LOI values where volatile species or mass gains (e.g., reduced metals) may occur. Typical applications include catalyst quality control, feedstock/catalyst inventory, and pre‑analysis preparation for elemental assays (e.g., platinum).

General information

• Status: Current / Active (in commercial distribution and listed by standards resellers).
• Publication date: 19 April 2011 (designated UOP 954-11).
• Publisher: Developed by Universal Oil Products (UOP); distributed commercially via UOP/Honeywell channels and multiple standards resellers (also indexed in ASTM/UOP product listings by resellers).
• ICS / categories: Analytical chemistry; Catalysts and adsorbents; Petroleum and petrochemical testing — materials characterization and laboratory methods.
• Edition / version: UOP 954-11 (2011 edition).
• Number of pages: 8 pages (typical promulgated document length listed by standards distributors).

Key bibliographic items above are drawn from distributor and standards-index entries for UOP 954-11.

Scope

This method is intended for determining loss on ignition (LOI) in air for fresh, regenerated, used and spent catalysts, catalyst supports and molecular sieves of various shapes/sizes (including fines). LOI is determined at a user‑selected ignition temperature and time chosen according to the volatility of components in the material; the method is quantitative to about 0.1 mass‑%. The procedure explicitly notes that any species volatilized at the chosen temperature (for example carbon, chlorine, fluorine) are included in the LOI and that sulfates and other species may partially volatilize depending on conditions. The method also warns that mass gains can occur for materials containing reduced metals, and that ignition conditions should be selected with the intended downstream analyses in mind (for example, driving off halogens prior to platinum determination).

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of LOI for catalysts, supports and adsorbents and the measurement principle (mass loss after controlled ignition in air).
• Selection criteria for ignition temperature and time based on volatility of sample components.
• Sample preparation guidance covering shaped bodies and fines, representative sampling and drying prior to ignition.
• Procedure for muffle‑furnace ignition, cooling and reweighing to calculate percent LOI.
• Notes on interferences and special cases: volatilization of halides/organic residues, partial volatilization of sulfates, and possible mass gains from metal oxidation/reduction.
• Reporting format and required calculation examples to express LOI as mass percent.

These topics are summarized from the method preview and distributor descriptions of UOP 954-11.

Typical use and users

UOP 954-11 is used in catalyst manufacturing and quality control laboratories, refinery and petrochemical analytical labs, catalyst reprocessing/regeneration facilities, and research labs working with adsorbents and molecular sieves. Typical users include analytical chemists, QA/QC engineers, process technologists, catalyst suppliers and third‑party labs performing incoming/outgoing material verification or preparing samples for elemental analysis (e.g., for precious‑metal assays).

Related standards

Related UOP and industry methods include other UOP laboratory procedures for catalyst characterization and elemental assays (examples: UOP 274, UOP 291, UOP 925, UOP 944 and related precision/metadata statements). Commercial distributors often pair UOP 954-11 with UOP procedures for surface area, metal content, chloride/sulfate determinations and precision statements for intermethod comparability.

Keywords

Loss on ignition; LOI; catalysts; catalyst supports; adsorbents; molecular sieves; muffle furnace; ignition temperature; sample preparation; UOP 954-11; catalyst quality control.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: UOP 954-11 is a laboratory test method that defines a controlled ignition procedure in air to determine Loss on Ignition (LOI) for catalysts, catalyst supports and adsorbents.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sample preparation for shaped bodies and fines, selection of ignition temperature and time, the muffle‑furnace ignition procedure, calculation of percent LOI and guidance on interpreting results where volatiles or reactive metals are present.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Catalyst manufacturers, refinery and petrochemical analytical labs, catalyst regeneration/reload facilities, and contract testing labs—used by analysts and QC/QA staff for material verification and as a preparatory step before elemental assays.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2011 edition (UOP 954-11) is listed as the active/current edition in commercial standards listings; distributors and standards services show the 19 April 2011 publication as the available edition. Users should check with UOP/Honeywell or authorized distributors for any later revisions or confirmations of currency before use.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — UOP 954-11 is one method in the broader body of UOP laboratory and catalyst characterization standards (UOP publishes many companion methods for metal analysis, surface area, chloride/sulfate, precision statements and related procedures).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: LOI, loss on ignition, catalyst, catalyst support, adsorbent, ignition temperature, muffle furnace, UOP 954-11, sample preparation, analytical method.