ASTM D2068-20

Standard Test Method for Determining Filter Blocking Tendency

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is intended for use in evaluating the cleanliness of middle distillate fuels, and biodiesel and biodiesel blends for specifications and quality control purposes.  
5.2 The filter media specified in the three procedures are all suitable for the materials in the Scope. Specifications calling up this test method should state the procedure required.  
5.3 A change in filtration performance after storage or pretreatment can be indicative of changes of fuel condition.  
5.4 The filterability of fuels varies depending on filter porosity and structure and therefore results from this test method might not correlate with full-scale filtration.  
5.5 Causes of poor filterability in industrial/refinery filters include fuel degradation products, contaminants (including water) picked up during storage or transfer, effects due to temperature or composition for bio fuels, incompatibility of commingled fuels, or interaction of the fuel with the filter media. Any of these could correlate with orifice or filter system plugging, or both.  
5.6 The results of the FBT test can range from 1 with a fuel with very good filterability, to over 100 for a fuel with poor filterability. The selection of a single FBT number to define a pass or fail criteria is not possible as this will be dependent on the fuel type and applications.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers three procedures for the determination of the filter blocking tendency (FBT) and filterability of middle distillate fuel oils and liquid fuels such as biodiesel and biodiesel blends. The three procedures and associated filter types are applicable to fuels within the viscosity range of 1.3 mm2 to 6.0 mm2/s at 40 °C.
Note 1: ASTM specification fuels falling within the scope of this test method are: Specification D396 Grades No 1 and 2; Specification D975 Grades 1-D, low sulfur 1-D and 2-D; Specification D2880 Grades 1-GT and 2-GT; Specification D6751.  
1.2 This test method is not applicable to fuels that contain free (undissolved) water (see 7.3).  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 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.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2020
• ICS: 75.160.20 - Liquid fuels
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.14 - Stability, Cleanliness and Compatibility of Liquid Fuels

Standards Content (Sample)

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: D2068 − 20
Standard Test Method for
1
Determining Filter Blocking Tendency
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2068; 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.
INTRODUCTION
This test method describes three procedures using different filter media. The result of any test is
dependent on the filter mandated in the procedure. If a specification requires a specific D2068
procedure, do not substitute a different procedure or filter without agreement from the specifier.
1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This test method covers three procedures for the deter- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
mination of the filter blocking tendency (FBT) and filterability D396 Specification for Fuel Oils
of middle distillate fuel oils and liquid fuels such as biodiesel D975 Specification for Diesel Fuel
andbiodieselblends.Thethreeproceduresandassociatedfilter D2880 Specification for Gas Turbine Fuel Oils
types are applicable to fuels within the viscosity range of D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
2 2
1.3 mm to 6.0 mm /s at 40 °C. Petroleum Products
D4176 Test Method for FreeWater and Particulate Contami-
NOTE 1—ASTM specification fuels falling within the scope of this test
nation in Distillate Fuels (Visual Inspection Procedures)
method are: Specification D396 Grades No 1 and 2; Specification D975
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and
Grades 1-D, low sulfur 1-D and 2-D; Specification D2880 Grades 1-GT
and 2-GT; Specification D6751.
Petroleum Products
D4860 Test Method for FreeWater and Particulate Contami-
1.2 This test method is not applicable to fuels that contain
nation in Middle Distillate Fuels (Clear and Bright Nu-
free (undissolved) water (see 7.3).
merical Rating)
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
D6300 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
Data for Use in Test Methods for Petroleum Products,
standard.
Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
D6426 Test Method for Determining Filterability of Middle
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Distillate Fuel Oils
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
D6708 Practice for StatisticalAssessment and Improvement
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
of Expected Agreement Between Two Test Methods that
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Purport to Measure the Same Property of a Material
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
D6751 Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100)
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
for Middle Distillate Fuels
3
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
2.2 ISO Standard:
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
ISO 5636-5 Paper and Board—Determination of Air Per-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
meance and Air Resistance (Medium Range) Part 5
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Gurley Method
1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Subcommittee D02.14 on Stability, Cleanliness and Compatibility of Liquid Fuels. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2020. Published October 2020. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as D2068 – 17. DOI: Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/D2068-20. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D2068 − 20
2.3 ASTM Adjuncts: 5.5 Causes of poor filterability in industrial/refinery filters
D2PP, Determination of Precision and Bias Data for Use in include fuel degradation products, contaminants (including
4
Test Methods for Petroleum Products water) picked up during storage or transfer, effects due to
CompTM, Standard
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D2068 − 17 D2068 − 20
Standard Test Method for
1
Determining Filter Blocking Tendency
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2068; 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.
INTRODUCTION
This test method describes three procedures using different filter media. The result of any test is
dependent on the filter mandated in the procedure. If a specification requires a specific D2068
procedure, do not substitute a different procedure or filter without agreement from the specifier.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers three procedures for the determination of the filter blocking tendency (FBT) and filterability of middle
distillate fuel oils and liquid fuels such as biodiesel and biodiesel blends. The three procedures and associated filter types are
2 2
applicable to fuels within the viscosity range of 1.3 mm to 6.0 mm6.0 mm /s at 40 °C.
NOTE 1—ASTM specification fuels falling within the scope of this test method are: Specification D396 Grades No 1 and 2; Specification D975 Grades
1-D, low sulfur 1-D and 2-D; Specification D2880 Grades 1-GT and 2-GT; Specification D6751.
1.2 This test method is not applicable to fuels that contain free (undissolved) water (see 7.3).
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D396 Specification for Fuel Oils
D975 Specification for Diesel Fuel
D2880 Specification for Gas Turbine Fuel Oils
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4176 Test Method for Free Water and Particulate Contamination in Distillate Fuels (Visual Inspection Procedures)
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.14 on Stability Stability, Cleanliness and CleanlinessCompatibility of Liquid Fuels.
Current edition approved May 1, 2017Oct. 1, 2020. Published June 2017October 2020. Originally approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 20142017 as
D2068 – 14.D2068 – 17. DOI: 10.1520/D2068-17.10.1520/D2068-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D2068 − 20
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4860 Test Method for Free Water and Particulate Contamination in Middle Distillate Fuels (Clear and Bright Numerical
Rating)
D6300 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias Data for Use in Test Methods for Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and
Lubricants
D6426 Test Method for Determining Filterability of Middle Distillate Fuel Oils
D6708 Practice for Statistical Assessment and Improvement of Expected Agreement Between Two Test Methods that Purport
to Measure the Same Property of a Material
D6751 Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels
3
2.2 ISO Standard:
ISO 5636-5 Paper and Board—Determination of Air Permeance and Air Resistance (Medium Range) Part 5 Gurley Method
2.3 ASTM Adjuncts:
4
D2PP, Determination of Precision and Bias Data for Use in Test Methods for Petroleum Products
CompTM, Standard Practice for Statistical Assessment and Improvement of the Expected Agreement between Two Test
...