ASTM D156-07

Standard Test Method for Saybolt Color of Petroleum Products (Saybolt Chromometer Method)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Determination of the color of petroleum products is used mainly for manufacturing control purposes and is an important quality characteristic since color is readily observed by the user of the product. In some cases the color may serve as an indication of the degree of refinement of the material. When the color range of a particular product is known, a variation outside the established range may indicate possible contamination with another product. However, color is not always a reliable guide to product quality and should not be used indiscriminately in product specifications.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the color of refined oils such as undyed motor and aviation gasoline, jet propulsion fuels, naphthas and kerosine, and, in addition, petroleum waxes and pharmaceutical white oils. Note 1 - For determining the color of petroleum products darker than Saybolt Color 16, see Test Method D 1500.
1.2 This test method reports results specific to this test method and recorded as, "Saybolt Color units."
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units or in SI units and which are not in parentheses are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only. Note 2 - Oil tubes and apparatus used in this test method have traditionally been marked in inches, (the tube is required to be etched with 1/8 in. divisions.) The Saybolt Color Numbers are aligned with inch, 1/2 in., 1/4 in., and 1/8 in. changes in the depth of oil. These fractional inch changes do not readily correspond to SI equivalents and in view of the preponderance of apparatus already in use and marked in inches, the inch/pound unit is regarded as the standard. However the test method does use SI units of length when the length is not directly related to divisions on the oil tube and Saybolt Color Numbers. The test method uses SI units for temperature.
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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Jul-2007
• ICS: 75.080 - Petroleum products in general
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.05.0C - Color and Reactivity

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D156-02e1 - Standard Test Method for Saybolt Color of Petroleum Products (Saybolt Chromometer Method)
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Replaced By: ASTM D156-07a - Standard Test Method for Saybolt Color of Petroleum Products (Saybolt Chromometer Method)
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D7058-19 - Standard Test Method for Determination of the Red Dye Concentration and Estimation of Saybolt Color of Aviation Turbine Fuels and Kerosine Using a Portable Visible Spectrophotometer
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D4871-11(2022) - Standard Guide for Universal Oxidation/Thermal Stability Test Apparatus
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D8235-21 - Standard Specification for Ethyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (ETBE) for Blending with Gasolines for Use as Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D1500-12(2017) - Standard Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D128-98(2019) - Standard Test Methods for Analysis of Lubricating Grease
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM E284-22 - Standard Terminology of Appearance
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D7566-22a - Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D1123-22a - Standard Test Methods for Water in Engine Coolant Concentrate by the Karl Fischer Reagent Method
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D235-22 - Standard Specification for Mineral Spirits (Petroleum Spirits) (Hydrocarbon Dry Cleaning Solvent)
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D3734-05(2018) - Standard Specification for High-Flash Aromatic Naphthas
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D1836-07(2021) - Standard Specification for Commercial Hexanes
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D7847-22 - Standard Guide for Interlaboratory Studies for Microbiological Test Methods
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D6045-20 - Standard Test Method for Color of Petroleum Products by the Automatic Tristimulus Method
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2007

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: D 156 – 07
Standard Test Method for
Saybolt Color of Petroleum Products (Saybolt Chromometer
1
Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D156; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* D938 Test Method for Congealing Point of Petroleum
Waxes, Including Petrolatum
1.1 Thistestmethodcoversthedeterminationofthecolorof
D1500 Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Prod-
refined oils such as undyed motor and aviation gasoline, jet
ucts (ASTM Color Scale)
propulsion fuels, naphthas and kerosine, and, in addition,
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
petroleum waxes and pharmaceutical white oils.
Petroleum Products
NOTE 1—For determining the color of petroleum products darker than
Saybolt Color−16, see Test Method D1500.
3. Terminology
1.2 This test method reports results specific to this test
3.1 Definitions:
method and recorded as, “Saybolt Color units.”
3.1.1 clear-and-bright, n—condition in which the sample is
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units or in SI units and
free of haze or cloudiness. (Also termed clean-and-bright.)
whicharenotinparenthesesaretoberegardedasthestandard.
3.1.2 free water, n—water in excess of that soluble in the
The values given in parentheses are for information only.
sample and appearing in the sample as a haze or cloudiness, or
as droplets.
NOTE 2—Oil tubes and apparatus used in this test method have
3.1.3 particulates, n—small solid or semisolid particles,
traditionallybeenmarkedininches,(thetubeisrequiredtobeetchedwith
1 1
sometimes referred to as silt or sediment, that may or may not
⁄8in.divisions.)TheSayboltColorNumbersarealignedwithinch, ⁄2in.,
1 1
⁄4in.,and ⁄8in.changesinthedepthofoil.Thesefractionalinchchanges be suspended in the sample.
do not readily correspond to SI equivalents and in view of the prepon-
3.1.4 turbidity, n—reduction of transparency of a sample
derance of apparatus already in use and marked in inches, the inch/pound
due to the presence of particulate matter.
unitisregardedasthestandard.HoweverthetestmethoddoesuseSIunits
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
oflengthwhenthelengthisnotdirectlyrelatedtodivisionsontheoiltube
3.2.1 Saybolt color—an empirical definition of the color of
and Saybolt Color Numbers. The test method uses SI units for tempera-
a clear petroleum liquid based on a scale of−16 (darkest)
ture.
to+30 (lightest). The number is derived by finding the height
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
of a column of the sample that, when viewed through the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
length of the column, visually matches the appropriate one of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
three glass standards and referring to Table 1 of Test Method
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
D156.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4. Summary of Test Method
2. Referenced Documents
4.1 Theheightofacolumnofsampleisdecreasedbylevels
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
correspondingtocolornumbersuntilthecolorofthesampleis
unmistakably lighter than that of the standard. The color
number above this level is reported, regardless of whether the
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
samplewasdarker,questionable,oramatchatthehigherlevel.
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.05.0C on Color and Reactivity.
5. Significance and Use
Current edition approved July 15, 2007. Published August 2007. Originally
e1
approved in 1923. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D156–02 .
5.1 Determinationofthecolorofpetroleumproductsisused
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
mainly for manufacturing control purposes and is an important
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
qualitycharacteristicsincecolorisreadilyobservedbytheuser
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. of the product. In some cases the color may serve as an
*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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D156–07
TABLE 1 Saybolt Colors Corresponding to Depths of Oil
Number of Color Number of Color Depth of Oil,
Depth of Oil, in. (mm) C
...