ASTM D2500-11

Standard Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
For petroleum products and biodiesel fuels, cloud point of a petroleum product is an index of the lowest temperature of their utility for certain applications.
Note—All dimensions are in milllimetres. FIG. 1 Apparatus for Cloud Point Test
SCOPE
:
1.1 This test method covers only petroleum products and biodiesel fuels that are transparent in layers 40 mm in thickness, and with a cloud point below 49°C.
Note 1—The interlaboratory program consisted of petroleum products of Test Method D1500 color of 3.5 and lower. The precisions stated in this test method may not apply to samples with ASTM color higher than 3.5.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 WARNINGMercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause central nervous system, kidney and liver damage. Mercury, or its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the applicable product Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for details and EPA’s websitehttp://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htmfor additional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury and/or mercury containing products into your state or country may be prohibited by law.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 7.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2011
• ICS: 75.080 - Petroleum products in general
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.07 - Flow Properties

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D2500-16 - Standard Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2016

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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
Designation: D2500 − 11 BritishStandard 4458
Standard Test Method for
1
Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2500; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* E1Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers
3
2.2 Energy Institute Standard:
1.1 This test method covers only petroleum products and
Specifications for IP Standard Thermometers
biodiesel fuels that are transparent in layers 40 mm in
thickness, and with a cloud point below 49°C.
3. Terminology
NOTE 1—The interlaboratory program consisted of petroleum products
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
ofTestMethodD1500colorof3.5andlower.Theprecisionsstatedinthis
3.1.1 biodiesel, n—afuelcomprisedofmono-alkylestersof
test method may not apply to samples withASTM color higher than 3.5.
long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
fats, designated B100.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Biodiesel is typically produced by a
standard.
reaction of vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol such as
1.3 WARNING—Mercury has been designated by many
methanol or ethanol in the presence of a catalyst to yield
regulatory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause
mono-estersandglycerin.Thefueltypicallymaycontainupto
central nervous system, kidney and liver damage. Mercury, or
14differenttypesoffattyacidsthatarechemicallytransformed
its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to
into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME).
materials.Cautionshouldbetakenwhenhandlingmercuryand
3.1.2 biodiesel blend, n—a blend of biodiesel fuel with
mercury containing products. See the applicable product Ma-
petroleum-based diesel fuel designated BXX, where XX is the
terial Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for details and EPA’s
volume % of biodiesel.
website—http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm—for addi-
3.1.3 cloud point, n— in petroleum products and biodiesel
tional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury
fuels, the temperature of a liquid specimen when the smallest
and/or mercury containing products into your state or country
observable cluster of hydrocarbon crystals first occurs upon
may be prohibited by law.
cooling under prescribed conditions.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.3.1 Discussion—To many observers, the cluster of wax
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
crystals looks like a patch of whitish or milky cloud, hence the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
nameofthetestmethod.Thecloudappearswhenthetempera-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
ture of the specimen is low enough to cause wax crystals to
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
form. For many specimens, the crystals first form at the lower
statements, see Section 7.
circumferential wall of the test jar where the temperature is
lowest.Thesizeandpositionofthecloudorclusteratthecloud
2. Referenced Documents
point varies depending on the nature of the specimen. Some
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
samples will form large, easily observable, clusters, while
D1500Test Method forASTM Color of Petroleum Products
others are barely perceptible.
(ASTM Color Scale)
3.1.3.2 Discussion—Upon cooling to temperatures lower
than the cloud point, clusters of crystals will grow in multiple
directions; for example, around the lower circumference of the
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
testjar,towardsthecenterofthejar,orverticallyupwards.The
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D02.07 on Flow Properties.
crystals can develop into a ring of cloud along the bottom
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2011.PublishedJuly2011.Originallyapproved
circumference,followedbyextensivecrystallizationacrossthe
in 1966. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D2500–09. DOI: 10.1520/
bottom of the test jar as temperature decreases. Nevertheless,
D2500-11.
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
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from Energy Institute, 61 New Cavendish St., London, WIG 7AR,
the ASTM website. U.K., http://www.energyinst.org.uk.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at t
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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.
British Standard 4458
Designation:D2500–09 Designation:D2500–11
Designation: 219/82
Standard Test Method for
1
Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2500; 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 (´) 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*
1.1 This test method covers only petroleum products and biodiesel fuels that are transparent in layers 40 mm in thickness, and
with a cloud point below 49°C.
NOTE 1—The interlaboratory program consisted of petroleum products ofTest Method D1500 color of 3.5 and lower.The precisions stated in this test
method may not apply to samples with ASTM color higher than 3.5.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3
1.3 WARNING—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause central
nervous system, kidney and liver damage. Mercury, or its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution
should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the applicable product Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS) for details and EPA’s website—http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm—for additional information. Users should be aware
that selling mercury and/or mercury containing products into your state or country may be prohibited by law.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 7.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1500 Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)
E1 Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers
3
2.2 Energy Institute Standard:
Specifications for IP Standard Thermometers
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 biodiesel, n—a fuel comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats,
designated B100.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Biodiesel is typically produced by a reaction of vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol such as
methanol or ethanol in the presence of a catalyst to yield mono-esters and glycerin. The fuel typically may contain up to 14
different types of fatty acids that are chemically transformed into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME).
3.1.2 biodiesel blend, n—a blend of biodiesel fuel with petroleum-based diesel fuel designated BXX, where XX is the volume
% of biodiesel.
3.1.3 cloud point, n— in petroleum products and biodiesel fuels, the temperature of a liquid specimen when the smallest
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D02.07 on
Flow Properties.
Current edition approved April 15, 2009. Published April 2009. Originally approved in 1966. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D2500–05. DOI:
10.1520/D2500-09.
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2011.PublishedJuly2011.Originallyapprovedin1966.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2009asD2500–09.DOI:10.1520/D2500-11.
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail] Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from Energy Institute, 61 New Cavendish St., London, WIG 7AR, U.K., http://www.energyinst.org.uk.
*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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D2500–11
observable cluster of hydrocarbon crystals first occurs upon cooling under prescribed conditions.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—Tomanyobservers,theclusterofwaxcrystalslookslikeapatchofwhitishormilkycloud,hencethename
ofthetestmethod.Thecloudappearswhenthetemperatureofthespecimenislowenoughtocausewaxcrystalstoform.Formany
specimens, the crystals first form at the lower circumferential wall of the test
...