Standard Test Method for Determination of Ethanol Content of Denatured Fuel Ethanol by Gas Chromatography

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Fuel ethanol is required to be denatured with gasoline in accordance with Specification D 4806. State and federal laws specify the concentration of ethanol in gasoline blends. The determination of the amount of denaturant is important to ensure the blended fuel complies with federal and state laws. This test method provides a method of determining the percentage of ethanol (purity) of the fuel ethanol that is blended into gasoline.
SCOPE
p>1.1 This test method covers the determination of the ethanol content of denatured fuel ethanol by gas chromatography.
1.2 Ethanol is determined from 93 to 97 mass % and methanol is determined from 0.1 to 0.6 mass %. Equations used to convert these individual alcohols from mass % to volume % are provided.
1.3 This test method does identify and quantify methanol but does not purport to identify all individual components that make up the denaturant.
1.4 Water cannot be determined by this test method and shall be measured by a procedure such as Test Method D 1364 and the result used to correct the chromatographic values.
1.5 This test method is inappropriate for impurities that boil at temperatures higher than 225oC or for impurities that cause poor or no response in a flame ionization detector, such as water.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information purposes only.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use./p>

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Status
Historical
Publication Date
31-Mar-2004
Current Stage
Ref Project

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ASTM D5501-04 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Ethanol Content of Denatured Fuel Ethanol by Gas Chromatography
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Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation:D5501–04
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Ethanol Content of Denatured Fuel Ethanol
1
by Gas Chromatography
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5501; 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.
1. Scope* D 4052 Test Method for Density and Relative Density of
Liquids by Digital Density Meter
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the ethanol
D 4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
content of denatured fuel ethanol by gas chromatography.
Petroleum Products
1.2 Ethanol is determined from 93 to 97 mass % and
D 4307 PracticeforPreparationofLiquidBlendsforUseas
methanol is determined from 0.1 to 0.6 mass %. Equations
Analytical Standards
used to convert these individual alcohols from mass % to
D 4626 Practice for Calculation of Gas Chromatographic
volume % are provided.
Response Factors
1.3 This test method does identify and quantify methanol
D 4806 SpecificationforDenaturedFuelEthanolforBlend-
but does not purport to identify all individual components that
ing with Gasolines for Use as Automotive Spark-Ignition
make up the denaturant.
Engine Fuel
1.4 Water cannot be determined by this test method and
E 355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Rela-
shall be measured by a procedure such as Test Method D 1364
tionships
and the result used to correct the chromatographic values.
E 594 Practice for Testing Flame Ionization Detectors Used
1.5 This test method is inappropriate for impurities that boil
in Gas Chromatography
at temperatures higher than 225°C or for impurities that cause
E 1064 Test Method for Water in Organic Liquids by
poor or no response in a flame ionization detector, such as
Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration
water.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
3. Terminology
standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for
3.1 Definitions—This test method makes reference to many
information purposes only.
common gas chromatographic procedures, terms, and relation-
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ships. Detailed definitions can be found in Practices E 355 and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
E 594.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4. Summary of Test Method
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.1 A representative aliquot of the fuel ethanol sample is
introduced into a gas chromatograph equipped with a polydi-
2. Referenced Documents
2 methylsiloxane bonded phase capillary column. Helium carrier
2.1 ASTM Standards:
gas transports the vaporized aliquot through the column where
D 1298 Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific
the components are separated by the chromatographic process.
Gravity), or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid
Components are sensed by a flame ionization detector as they
Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method
elute from the column. The detector signal is processed by an
D 1364 Test Method for Water in Volatile Solvents (Fischer
electronic data acquisition system. The ethanol and methanol
Reagent Titration Method)
componentsareidentifiedbycomparingtheirretentiontimesto
the ones identified by analyzing standards under identical
conditions. The concentrations of all components are deter-
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
mined in mass percent area by normalization of the peak areas.
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.04.0L on Hydrocarbon Analysis.
5. Significance and Use
Current edition approved April 1, 2004. Published April 2004. Originally
´1
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D 5501–94(1998) .
5.1 Fuel ethanol is required to be denatured with gasoline in
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
accordance with Specification D 4806. State and federal laws
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
specify the concentration of ethanol in gasoline blends. The
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. determination of the amount of denaturant is important to
*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.
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D5501–04
ensure the blended fuel complies with federal and state law
...

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