ASTM D5305-12
(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
4.1 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.) 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 covers 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 volume (ppmv), this test method is specifically applicable to systems containing 5 ppmv 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 (metric) units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: D5305 − 12
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* volume (ppmv), by comparison with a calibration scale pro-
vided by the manufacturer of the stain tube.
1.1 This test method covers a rapid and simple procedure
using length of stain tubes for field measurement of ethyl
4. Significance and Use
mercaptan in the vapor phase of LP-gas systems. Although
length-of-stain tubes are available to detect ethyl mercaptan
4.1 LP-gas is colorless and odorless, and not detectable by
concentrations in the range of 0.5 to 120 parts per million
normal human senses. To provide an olfactory warning in the
volume (ppmv), this test method is specifically applicable to
event of a leak, LP-gas intended for domestic or commercial
systems containing 5 ppmv or more of ethyl mercaptan in
fuel use is intentionally odorized so as to be readily detectable
LP-gas vapors.
well below flammable or suffocating concentration levels of
LP-gas in air. (See Appendix X1.) The most common odorant
NOTE 1—A chromatographic technique can be used for more precise,
quantitative determination of ethyl mercaptan in LP-gas. for LP-gas is ethyl mercaptan. The field use of this test method
will rapidly determine the presence and concentration of ethyl
1.2 The values stated in SI (metric) units are to be regarded
mercaptan in LP-gas vapor without the necessity for complex
as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information
laboratory equipment.
only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5. Interferences
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.1 Detector tubes can be subject to interferences from
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
materials other than the target substance. Methyl mercaptan
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
will likely interfere with tubes designed to measure ethyl
mercaptan. Because of different detection chemistry by differ-
2. Referenced Documents
ent manufacturers, interferences can vary. Consult the manu-
2
2.1 NFPA Standard:
facturer’s instructions for specific interference information and
NFPA58 StandardfortheStorageandHandlingofLiquefied observe any instructions given.
Petroleum Gases
5.2 Propylene (propene) will cause an interfering (gray)
discoloration with some tubes designed for ethyl mercaptan.
3. Summary of Test Method
LP-gas from natural gas sources usually does not contain
3.1 Using a manually-operated vacuum pump, a sample of
propylene (propene). However, LP-gas produced in refinery
LP-gas from the vapor space of an LP-gas cylinder, storage
operations often does contain propylene (propene). Detector
tank or other closed containment system is drawn through a
tubes calibrated for t-butyl mercaptan eliminate this
detector tube made specifically for detection of mercaptans.
interference, and should be used if the presence of propylene
Thelengthofstain(colorchange)producedinthedetectortube
(propene) is suspected. Some tubes designed for measurement
when exposed to a measured volume of sample is directly
of t-butyl mercaptan are calibrated in milligrams per cubic
proportional to the amount of ethyl mercaptan present in the
3
metre (mg/m ) and should be converted to ppmv ethyl mer-
sample being tested. The length of stain produced in the
captan as shown in Annex A1.
detector tube is converted to concentration, in parts per million
5.3 The validity of this test method depends on the ethyl
mercaptan in the LP-gas vapor phase being in equilibrium with
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
ethylmercaptanintheLP-gasliquidphase.IfLP-gasvaporhas
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
recently been vented, or if a significant volume of vapor
Subcommittee D02.H0 on Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2012. Published February 2013. Originally
relative to the total volume of the vapor phase is vented during
approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D5305–97(2007).
this test procedure, the concentration of ethyl mercaptan in the
DOI: 10.1520/D5305-12.
2
vapor phase sample can be lower than the equilibrium concen-
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org. tration.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
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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.
Designation: D5305 − 97 (Reapproved 2007) D5305 − 12
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 Scope*
1.1 This test method covers 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 volume (ppmv), this test method is specifically applicable to systems containing 5 ppmv 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 (metric) units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 NFPA Standard:
NFPA 58 Standard for the Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases
3. Summary of Test Method
3.1 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 mercaptans. 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 volume (ppmv), by comparison with a calibration scale provided by the manufacturer of the stain
tubes.tube.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 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.) 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.
5. Interferences
5.1 Detector tubes can be subject to interferences from materials other than the target substance. Methyl mercaptan will likely
interfere with tubes designed to measure ethyl mercaptan. Because of different detection chemistry by different manufacturers,
interferences can vary. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for specific interference information and observe any instructions
given.
5.2 Propylene (propene) will cause an interfering (gray) discoloration with some tubes designed for ethyl mercaptan. LP-gas
from natural gas sources usually does not contain propylene (propene). However, LP-gas produced in refinery operations often
does contain propylene (propene). Detector tubes calibrated for t-butyl mercaptan eliminate this interference, and should be used
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D02.H0 on
Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
Current edition approved May 1, 2007Nov. 1, 2012. Published June 2007February 2013. Originally approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 20022007 as
D5305 – 97D5305–97(2007). (2002). DOI: 10.1520/D5305-97R07.10.1520/D5305-12.
2
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 − 12
if the presence of propylene (propene) is suspected. Some tubes designed for measurement of t-butyl mercaptan a
...
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