© SABS.

This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
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copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

ISBN 978-0-626-21531-6
SANS 6243:2008
Edition 1.2

Any reference to SABS SM 1243 is deemed

to be a reference to this standard
(Government Notice No. 1373 of 8 November 2002)

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Deleterious clay content of the fines in

aggregate (methylene blue adsorption
indicator test)

Published by SABS Standards Division

1 Dr Lategan Road Groenkloof Private Bag X191 Pretoria 0001
Tel: +27 12 428 7911 Fax: +27 12 344 1568
www.sabs.co.za
© SABS

© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

SANS 6243:2008
Edition 1.2

Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope
Amdt 1 2002 Amended to update normative references.
Amdt 2 2008 Amended to change the designation of SABS standards to SANS
standards, and to delete a footnote.

Foreword
This South African standard was approved by National Committee SABS SC 59A, Construction
standards – Cement, lime and concrete, in accordance with procedures of the SABS Standards Division,
in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.

This document was published in October 2008. This document supersedes SABS SM 1243:2002
(edition 1.1).

A vertical line in the margin shows where the text has been technically modified by amendment No. 2.

© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

SANS 6243:2008
Edition 1.2

Deleterious clay content of the fines in aggregate (methylene blue

adsorption indicator test)

1 Scope and field of application

This standard specifies a rapid qualitative means for determining whether the clay content of the fines of
an aggregate contains deleterious swelling clay minerals, such as smectites, which are usually results of
the weathering of rock. The method also indicates to what extent an aggregate requires to be further
investigated to determine its suitability for specific applications.

2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this standard. All standards are subject to revision and, since any reference to a standard is deemed to
be a reference to the latest edition of that standard, parties to agreements based on this standard are
encouraged to take steps to ensure the use of the most recent editions of the standards indicated below.
Information on currently valid national and international standards can be obtained from the SABS
Standards Division.

SANS 197, Preparation of test samples of aggregates.

SANS 3310-1/ISO 3310-1, Test sieves – Technical requirements and testing – Part 1: Test sieves of
metal wire cloth. Amdt 1

SANS 3310-2/ISO 3310-2, Test sieves – Technical requirements and testing – Part 2: Test sieves of
perforated metal plate. Amdt 1

SANS 5832, Organic impurities in fine aggregates (limit test).

3 Reagents
3.1 Methylene blue, analytical reagent (in the trihydrate form), kept in a dry and dark place.

3.2 Indicator solution, that consists of 0,1 g of methylene blue dissolved in distilled water and made
up to 100 mL. The solution will remain stable for 2 weeks, after which it should be discarded.

3.3 Water, distilled or deionized.

3.4 Hydrogen peroxide, 30 % by mass.

© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

SANS 6243:2008
Edition 1.2

4 Apparatus
4.1 Burette, of capacity 25 mL, mounted on a stand.

4.2 Erlenmeyer flask, of capacity 250 mL.

4.3 Filter paper1), medium textured quantitative. Amdt 2

4.4 Test sieves, of nominal aperture sizes 425 µm and 75 µm, and that comply with the requirements
of SANS 3310-1 or SANS 3310-2. Amdt 1

5 Procedure
5.1 Take a sample of aggregate of approximately 1 kg (see SANS 197) and dry-sieve it on a 75 µm
sieve protected by a 425 µm sieve.

5.2 If the sample fails the test for organic impurities (see SANS 5832), take a representative specimen
of approximately 5 g from the material that passed the 75 µm sieve, boil it for approximately 0,5 h in
sufficient hydrogen peroxide in a glass beaker of suitable capacity and height and allow the whole to
cool to room temperature. Wash the material in the beaker by adding water almost to the rim and stirring
the contents vigorously. Allow the whole to stand undisturbed until the supernatant liquid is clear and
contains no solid particles. Carefully decant the clear liquid, ensuring that no solid material is lost.
Repeat the process of washing and decanting a further two times. Dry the residue to constant mass at a
temperature of 100 °C to 110 °C and cool it to room temperature.

5.3 From the material that passed the 75 µm sieve, take a representative specimen of 1 g (untreated or
treated, as relevant (see 5.2)), weighed to the nearest 0,01 g (mass M ), place it in the Erlenmeyer flask,
add 30 mL ± 1 mL of water and disperse the specimen by vigorously swirling and shaking the flask.

5.4 Titration

5.4.1 Titrate successions of 0,5 mL of the indicator solution to the dispersion in the Erlenmeyer flask,
using the burette. After each addition of the indicator, agitate the contents of the flask for 1 min, remove
a drop of the dispersion with a glass rod and dab it carefully on a sheet of filter paper (see 4.3). Initially,
a spot that is dark blue in colour, with a distinct edge, surrounded by a ring of clear water, is formed.

5.4.2 When the edge of a spot appears fuzzy or is surrounded by a narrow light-blue halo (or both),
agitate the flask for a further 1 min and carry out another spot test.

5.4.3 If the halo disappears, add another 0,5 mL of the indicator solution to the contents of the flask,
agitate it as before and carry out another spot test.

5.4.4 If the halo persists, agitate the flask for a further 2 min and repeat the spot test.

5.4.5 Whatever the outcome of the spot test as described in 5.4.1 to 5.4.4, add further volumes of
0,5 mL of indicator solution at a time, followed by agitation for 2 min, spot test and then agitate again for
2 min and spot test. Repeat this sequence, with a total of 4 min of agitation, until a definite blue halo is
observed.

1)
Whatman No. 40 or equivalent. Amdt 2

© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

SANS 6243:2008
Edition 1.2

5.4.6 Record each successive addition of indicator solution by appropriate marking of the filter paper
on which spot tests are carried out.

5.4.7 By holding the filter paper up against natural light while it is still damp, determine the volume of
indicator solution (volume V ) added that caused a blue halo to appear persistently for the first time.

6 Expression and reporting of results

6.1 Calculate the methylene blue adsorption value MBV (percentage of methylene blue adsorbed), as
follows:

(V × 0,10)
MBV =
M

where

V is the total volume of indicator solution added, in millilitres (see 5.4.7); and

M is the mass of the sample tested, in grams (see 5.3).

6.2 Report the methylene blue adsorption value (MBV) to the nearest 0,1.

© SABS

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