ASTM D5441-98
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Analysis of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) by Gas Chromatography
Standard Test Method for Analysis of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) by Gas Chromatography
SCOPE
1.1 This test method provides for determination of the purity of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) by gas chromatography. It also provides a procedure to measure impurities in MTBE such as C 4 to C 12 olefins, methyl, isopropyl and tert-butyl alcohols, methyl sec-butyl and methyl tert-amyl ethers, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone. Impurities are determined to a minimum concentration of 0.02 mass %.
1.2 This test method is not applicable to the determination of MTBE in gasoline.
1.3 Water cannot be determined by this test method and must be measured by a procedure such as Test Method D1364 and the result used to normalize the chromatographic values.
1.4 A majority of the impurities in MTBE is resolved by the test method, however, some co-elution is encountered.
1.5 This test method is inappropriate for impurities that boil at temperatures higher than 180°C or for impurities that cause poor or no response in a flame ionization detector, such as water.
1.6 The values stated in SI (metric) units of measurement are preferred and used throughout the standard. Alternate units, in common usage, are also provided to improve clarity and aid the user of this method.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to consult and establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
An American National Standard
Designation: D 5441 – 98
Standard Test Method for
Analysis of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) by Gas
1
Chromatography
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5441; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
3
1. Scope Using Floating Piston Cylinder
D 4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
1.1 This test method provides for determination of the
3
Petroleum Products
purity of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) by gas chromatogra-
D 4307 Practice for Preparation of Liquid Blends for Use as
phy. It also provides a procedure to measure impurities in
3
Analytical Standards
MTBE such as C to C olefins, methyl, isopropyl and
4 12
D 4626 Practice for Calculation of Gas Chromatographic
tert-butyl alcohols, methyl sec-butyl and methyl tert-amyl
3
Response Factors
ethers, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone. Impurities are deter-
E 355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Rela-
mined to a minimum concentration of 0.02 mass %.
4
tionships
1.2 This test method is not applicable to the determination
E 594 Practice for Testing Flame Ionization Detectors Used
of MTBE in gasoline.
4
in Gas Chromatography
1.3 Water cannot be determined by this test method and
must be measured by a procedure such as Test Method D 1364
3. Terminology
and the result used to normalize the chromatographic values.
3.1 Definitions:
1.4 A majority of the impurities in MTBE is resolved by the
3.1.1 This test method makes reference to many common
test method, however, some co-elution is encountered.
gas chromatographic procedures, terms, and relationships.
1.5 This test method is inappropriate for impurities that boil
Detailed definitions of these can be found in Practices E 355
at temperatures higher than 180°C or for impurities that cause
and E 594.
poor or no response in a flame ionization detector, such as
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
water.
3.2.1 C to C olefins— common olefin impurities in
4 12
1.6 The values stated in SI (metric) units of measurement
MTBE are unreacted feedstock and dimers or trimers of feed
are preferred and used throughout the standard. Alternate units,
such as trimethylpentene or pentamethylheptene.
in common usage, are also provided to improve clarity and aid
the user of this test method.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 A representative aliquot of the MTBE product sample is
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
introduced into a gas chromatograph equipped with a methyl
responsibility of the user of this standard to consult and
silicone bonded phase fused silica open tubular column.
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
Helium carrier gas transports the vaporized aliquot through the
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
column where the components are separated by the chromato-
graphic process. Components are sensed by a flame ionization
2. Referenced Documents
detector as they elute from the column.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.2 The detector signal is processed by an electronic data
D 1364 Test Method for Water in Volatile Solvents (Fischer
2 acquisition system or integrating computer. Each eluting com-
Reagent Titration Method)
ponent is identified by comparing its retention time to those
D 3700 Practice for Containing Hydrocarbon Fluid Samples
established by analyzing standards under identical conditions.
4.3 The concentration of each component in mass percent is
determined by normalization of the peak areas after each peak
1 area has been corrected by a detector response multiplication
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.04.0L on Gas Chromatography Methods.
Current edition approved April 10, 1998. Published June 1998. Originally
3
published as D5441–93. Last previous edition D5441–93. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.02.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.04. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.01.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D 5441
factor. The detector response factors are determined by ana- injection technique, or both can result in poor resolution.
lyzing prepared standards with
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.