ASTM D5305-23
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determination of Ethyl Mercaptan in LP-Gas Vapor
Standard Test Method for Determination of Ethyl Mercaptan in LP-Gas Vapor
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 LP-gas is colorless and odorless, and not detectable by normal human senses. To provide an olfactory warning in the event of a leak, LP-gas intended for domestic or commercial fuel use is intentionally odorized so as to be readily detectable well below flammable or suffocating concentration levels of LP-gas in air. (See Appendix X1 for important explanations.) The most common odorant for LP-gas is ethyl mercaptan. The field use of this test method will rapidly determine the presence and concentration of ethyl mercaptan in LP-gas vapor without the necessity for complex laboratory equipment.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a rapid and simple procedure using length-of-stain tubes for field measurement of ethyl mercaptan in the vapor phase of LP-gas systems. Although length-of-stain tubes are available to detect ethyl mercaptan concentrations in the range of 0.5 to 120 parts per million by volume, this test method is specifically applicable to systems containing 5 ppm by volume or more of ethyl mercaptan in LP-gas vapors.
Note 1: A chromatographic technique can be used for more precise, quantitative determination of ethyl mercaptan in LP-gas.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.3 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.
1.4 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
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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: D5305 − 23
Standard Test Method for
1
Determination of Ethyl Mercaptan in LP-Gas Vapor
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5305; 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* 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method describes a rapid and simple procedure
3.1 Definitions:
using length-of-stain tubes for field measurement of ethyl
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
mercaptan in the vapor phase of LP-gas systems. Although to Terminology D4175.
length-of-stain tubes are available to detect ethyl mercaptan
3.1.2 liquefied petroleum gas (LP Gas, LPG), n—a narrow
concentrations in the range of 0.5 to 120 parts per million by boiling range mixture of hydrocarbons consisting of propane,
volume, this test method is specifically applicable to systems
propylene, butanes and butylenes, individually or in specified
containing 5 ppm by volume or more of ethyl mercaptan in combinations, with limited amounts of other hydrocarbons
LP-gas vapors.
(such as ethane) and may contain naturally occurring,
petroleum-derived, non-hydrocarbons.
NOTE 1—A chromatographic technique can be used for more precise,
quantitative determination of ethyl mercaptan in LP-gas.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
4.1 Using a manually-operated vacuum pump, a sample of
standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are
LP-gas from the vapor space of an LP-gas cylinder, storage
provided for information only and are not considered standard.
tank or other closed containment system is drawn through a
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
detector tube made specifically for detection of ethyl mercap-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tan. The length-of-stain (color change) produced in the detector
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
tube when exposed to a measured volume of sample is directly
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
proportional to the amount of ethyl mercaptan present in the
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
sample being tested. The length-of-stain produced in the
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
detector tube is converted to concentration, in parts per million
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
by volume, by comparison with a calibration scale provided by
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
the manufacturer of the stain tube.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
5. Significance and Use
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5.1 LP-gas is colorless and odorless, and not detectable by
normal human senses. To provide an olfactory warning in the
2. Referenced Documents
2 event of a leak, LP-gas intended for domestic or commercial
2.1 ASTM Standards:
fuel use is intentionally odorized so as to be readily detectable
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid
well below flammable or suffocating concentration levels of
Fuels, and Lubricants
3 LP-gas in air. (See Appendix X1 for important explanations.)
2.2 NFPA Standard:
The most common odorant for LP-gas is ethyl mercaptan. The
NFPA 58 Standard for the Storage and Handling of Liquefied
field use of this test method will rapidly determine the presence
Petroleum Gases
and concentration of ethyl mercaptan in LP-gas vapor without
the necessity for complex laboratory equipment.
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
6. Interferences
Subcommittee D02.H0 on Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
Current edition approved March 1, 2023. Published March 2023. Originally
6.1 Detector tubes can be subject to interferences from
ɛ1
approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D5305 – 18 . DOI:
materials other than the target substance. Methyl mercaptan
10.1520/D5305-23.
2
will likely interfere with tubes designed to measure ethyl
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
mercaptan. Because of different detection chemistry by differ-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
ent manufacturers, interferen
...
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: D5305 − 18 D5305 − 23
Standard Test Method for
1
Determination of Ethyl Mercaptan in LP-Gas Vapor
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5305; 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 corrected 7.3 in December 2020.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method describes a rapid and simple procedure using length-of-stain tubes for field measurement of ethyl mercaptan
in the vapor phase of LP-gas systems. Although length-of-stain tubes are available to detect ethyl mercaptan concentrations in the
range of 0.5 to 120 parts per million by volume, this test method is specifically applicable to systems containing 5 ppm by volume
or more of ethyl mercaptan in LP-gas vapors.
NOTE 1—A chromatographic technique can be used for more precise, quantitative determination of ethyl mercaptan in LP-gas.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for
information only and are not considered standard.
1.3 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.
1.4 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:
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
3
2.2 NFPA Standard:
NFPA 58 Standard for the Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases
3. Terminology
3.1 Abbreviations:Definitions:
3.1.1 EM—ethyl mercaptan
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.H0 on Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
Current edition approved April 1, 2018March 1, 2023. Published May 2018March 2023. Originally approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 20122018 as
ɛ1
D5305 – 12.D5305 – 18 . DOI: 10.1520/D5305-18E01.10.1520/D5305-23.
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.
3
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.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
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D5305 − 23
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology D4175.
3.1.2 LP-Gas, LPG—liquefied petroleum gas (LP Gas, LPG), n—liquefied petroleum gasa narrow boiling range mixture of
hydrocarbons consisting of propane, propylene, butanes and butylenes, individually or in specified combinations, with limited
amounts of other hydrocarbons (such as ethane) and may contain naturally occurring, petroleum-derived, non-hydrocarbons.
3.1.3 PTFE—polytetrafluoroethylene
3.1.4 TBM—t-butyl mercaptan
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 Using a manually-operated vacuum pump, a sample of LP-gas from the vapor space of an LP-gas cylinder, storage tank or
other closed containment system is drawn through a detector tube made specifically for detection of ethyl mercaptan. The
length-of-stain (color change) produced in the detector tube when exposed to a measured volume of sample is directly proportional
to the amount of ethyl mercaptan present in the sample being tested. The length-of-stain produced in the detector tube is converted
to concentration, in parts per million by volume, by comparison with a calibration scale provided by the manufacturer of the stain
tube.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 LP-gas is colorless and odorless, and not detectable by normal human senses. To provide an olfactory warning in t
...
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