ASTM D7061-23
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Measuring n-Heptane Induced Phase Separation of Asphaltene-Containing Heavy Fuel Oils as Separability Number by an Optical Scanning Device
Standard Test Method for Measuring n-Heptane Induced Phase Separation of Asphaltene-Containing Heavy Fuel Oils as Separability Number by an Optical Scanning Device
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This procedure describes a rapid and sensitive method for estimating the stability reserve of an oil. The stability reserve is estimated in terms of a separability number, where a low value of the separability number indicates that there is a stability reserve within the oil. When the separability number is between 0 to 5, the oil can be considered to have a high stability reserve and asphaltenes are not likely to flocculate. If the separability number is between 5 to 10, the stability reserve in the oil will be much lower. However, asphaltenes are, in this case, not likely to flocculate as long as the oil is not exposed to any worse conditions, such as storing, aging, and heating. If the separability number is above 10, the stability reserve of the oil is very low and asphaltenes will easily flocculate, or have already started to flocculate.
5.2 This test method can be used by refiners and users of oils, for which this test method is applicable, to estimate the stability reserves of their oils. Hence, this test method can be used by refineries to control and optimize their refinery processes. Consumers of oils can use this test method to estimate the stability reserve of their oils before, during, and after storage.
FIG. 1 Schematic Representation of a Typical Measurement Using an Optical Scanning Device
5.3 This test method is not intended for predicting whether oils are compatible before mixing, but can be used for determining the separability number of already blended oils. However, oils that show a low separability number are more likely to be compatible with other oils than are oils with high separability numbers.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the quantitative measurement, either in the laboratory or in the field, of how easily asphaltene-containing heavy fuel oils diluted in toluene phase separate upon addition of heptane. This is measured as a separability number (%) by the use of an optical scanning device.
1.2 The test method is limited to asphaltene-containing heavy fuel oils. ASTM specification fuels that generally fall within the scope of this test method are Specification D396, Grade Nos. 4, 5, and 6, Specification D975, Grade No. 4-D, and Specification D2880, Grade Nos. 3-GT and 4-GT. Refinery fractions from which such blended fuels are made also fall within the scope of this test method.
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.
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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: D7061 − 23
Standard Test Method for
Measuring n-Heptane Induced Phase Separation of
Asphaltene-Containing Heavy Fuel Oils as Separability
1
Number by an Optical Scanning Device
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7061; 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* D975 Specification for Diesel Fuel
D2880 Specification for Gas Turbine Fuel Oils
1.1 This test method covers the quantitative measurement,
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
either in the laboratory or in the field, of how easily asphaltene-
Petroleum Products
containing heavy fuel oils diluted in toluene phase separate
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid
upon addition of heptane. This is measured as a separability
Fuels, and Lubricants
number (%) by the use of an optical scanning device.
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and
1.2 The test method is limited to asphaltene-containing
Petroleum Products
heavy fuel oils. ASTM specification fuels that generally fall
within the scope of this test method are Specification D396,
3. Terminology
Grade Nos. 4, 5, and 6, Specification D975, Grade No. 4-D,
3.1 Definitions:
and Specification D2880, Grade Nos. 3-GT and 4-GT. Refinery
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
fractions from which such blended fuels are made also fall
to Terminology D4175.
within the scope of this test method.
3.1.2 asphaltenes, n—(rarely used in the singular), in petro-
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
leum technology, represent an oil fraction that is soluble in a
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
specified aromatic solvent but separates upon addition of an
standard.
excess of a specified paraffinic solvent.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.2.1 Discussion—In this test method, the aromatic sol-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
vent is toluene and the paraffinic solvent is heptane.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.3 compatibility, n—of crude oils or of heavy fuel oils,
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
the ability of two or more crude oils or fuel oils to blend
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
together within certain concentration ranges without evidence
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
of separation, such as the formation of multiple phases.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1.3.1 Discussion—Incompatible heavy fuel oils or crude
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
oils, when mixed or blended, result in the flocculation or
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
precipitation of asphaltenes. Some oils may be compatible
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
within certain concentration ranges in specific mixtures, but
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
incompatible outside those ranges.
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.4 flocculation, n—of asphaltenes from crude oils or
2
heavy fuel oils, the aggregation of colloidally dispersed as-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
phaltenes into visibly larger masses, which may or may not
D396 Specification for Fuel Oils
settle.
3.1.5 peptization, n—of asphaltenes in crude oils or heavy
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 fuel oils, the dispersion of asphaltenes to produce a colloidal
Subcommittee D02.14 on Stability, Cleanliness and Compatibility of Liquid Fuels.
dispersion.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2023. Published December 2023. Originally
ɛ1
3.1.6 stability reserve, n—of crude oils, heavy fuel oils, and
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as D7061 – 19 . DOI:
10.1520/D7061-23.
residual streams containing asphaltenes, the property of an oil
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
to maintain asphaltenes in a peptized (colloidally dispersed)
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
state and prevent flocculation of the asphaltenes.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. 3.1.6.1 Discussion—An oil with a low stability reserve is
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of
...
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.
´1
Designation: D7061 − 19 D7061 − 23
Standard Test Method for
Measuring n-Heptane Induced Phase Separation of
Asphaltene-Containing Heavy Fuel Oils as Separability
1
Number by an Optical Scanning Device
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7061; 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
ε NOTE—Editorially updated Eq 2 and Eq 3 in April 2020.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the quantitative measurement, either in the laboratory or in the field, of how easily asphaltene-
containing heavy fuel oils diluted in toluene phase separate upon addition of heptane. This is measured as a separability number
(%) by the use of an optical scanning device.
1.2 The test method is limited to asphaltene-containing heavy fuel oils. ASTM specification fuels that generally fall within the
scope of this test method are Specification D396, Grade Nos. 4, 5, and 6, Specification D975, Grade No. 4-D, and Specification
D2880, Grade Nos. 3-GT and 4-GT. Refinery fractions from which such blended fuels are made also fall within the scope of this
test method.
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.
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
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
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, Cleanliness and Compatibility of Liquid Fuels.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2019Dec. 1, 2023. Published January 2020December 2023. Originally approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 20172019
ɛ1
as D7061 – 17.D7061 – 19 . DOI: 10.1520/D7061-19E01.10.1520/D7061-23.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. 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
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D7061 − 23
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology D4175.
3.1.2 asphaltenes, n—(rarely used in the singular), in petroleum technology, represent an oil fraction that is soluble in a specified
aromatic solvent but separates upon addition of an excess of a specified paraffinic solvent.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—
In this test method, the aromatic solvent is toluene and the paraffinic solvent is heptane.
3.1.3 compatibility, n—of crude oils or of heavy fuel oils, the ability of two or more crude oils or fuel oils to blend together within
certain concentration ranges without evidence of separation, such as the formation of multiple phases.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—
Incompatible heavy fuel oils or crude oils, when mixed or blended, result in the flocculation or precipitation of asphaltenes. Some
oils may be compatible within certain concentration ranges in specific mixtures, but incompatible outside those ranges.
3.1.4 flocculation, n—of asphaltenes from crude oils or heavy fuel oils, the aggregation of colloidally dispersed asphaltenes into
visibly larger masses thatmasses, which may
...
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