ASTM D7397-17

Standard Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels (Miniaturized Optical Method)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The cloud point of petroleum products and biodiesel fuels is an index of the lowest temperature of their utility for certain applications. Wax crystals of sufficient quantity can plug filters used in some fuel systems.  
5.2 Petroleum blending operations require a precise measurement of the cloud point.  
5.3 This test method can determine the temperature of the test specimen at which wax crystals have formed sufficiently to be observed as a cloud with a resolution of 0.1 °C.  
5.4 This test method provides results that are equivalent to Test Method D5773/IP 446. The temperature results of this test method have been found to be warmer than those of Test Method D2500/IP 219 by an average of 0.49 °C; however, no sample specific bias was observed.  
5.5 Similar to Test Method D5773/IP 446, this test method determines cloud point in a shorter period of time than Test Method D2500/IP 219.
Note 1: In cases of samples with cloud points near ambient temperatures, time savings may not be realized.
Note 2: This test method eliminates most of the operator time required of Test Method D2500/IP 219.
Note 3: The only utility required by the apparatus described in this test method is electricity with power consumption of approximately 20 W. The electric power can come from an alternating current source (wall receptacle) or direct current source such as a battery or a cigarette lighter plug in a vehicle.
Note 4: The apparatus described by this test method can be made much smaller and lighter than that of Test Methods D5773/IP 446 and D2500/IP 219, allowing full portability.
Note 5: The apparatus used in the 2006 interlaboratory study weighed approximately 1 kg and occupied the space of a small lunch box. See Section 13.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the cloud point of petroleum products and biodiesel fuels that are transparent in layers 40 mm in thickness by an automatic instrument.  
1.2 This test method covers the range of temperatures from –60 °C to +20 °C with temperature resolution of 0.1 °C; however, the range of temperatures included in the 2006 interlaboratory cooperative test program only covered the temperature range of –35 °C to +12 °C. See Section 13.  
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 and health 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2017
• ICS: 75.080 - Petroleum products in general
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.07 - Flow Properties

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: D7397 − 17
Standard Test Method for
Cloud Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels
1
(Miniaturized Optical Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7397; 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* D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and
Petroleum Products
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the cloud
D5773 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
point of petroleum products and biodiesel fuels that are
(Constant Cooling Rate Method)
transparent in layers 40 mm in thickness by an automatic
3
2.2 Energy Institute Standards:
instrument.
IP 219 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
1.2 This test method covers the range of temperatures from
IP 446 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
–60 °C to +20 °C with temperature resolution of 0.1 °C;
however, the range of temperatures included in the 2006
3. Terminology
interlaboratory cooperative test program only covered the
3.1 Definitions:
temperature range of –35 °C to +12 °C. See Section 13.
3.1.1 biodiesel, n—fuel comprising mono-alkyl esters of
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
long-chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
fats, designated B100.
standard.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Biodiesel is typically produced by a
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
reaction of vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol such as
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
methanol or ethanol in the presence of a catalyst to yield
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
mono-esters and glycerin.The fuel typically may contain up to
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
14differenttypesoffattyacidsthatarechemicallytransformed
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME).
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1.2 biodiesel blend (BXX), n—blend of biodiesel fuel with
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
petroleum-based diesel fuel designated BXX, where XX is the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
volume percentage (as a whole number without the percentage
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
sign) of biodiesel.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1.3 cloud point, n—in petroleum products and biodiesel
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
fuels, the temperature of a liquid specimen when the smallest
observable cluster of wax crystals first occurs upon cooling
2. Referenced Documents
under prescribed conditions.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.3.1 Discussion—The cloud point occurs when the tem-
D2500 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
perature of the specimen is low enough to cause wax crystals
and Liquid Fuels
to precipitate. In a homogeneous liquid, the cloud is always
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
noted first at the location in the specimen where the specimen
Petroleum Products
temperature is the lowest.The cloud point is the temperature at
which the crystals first occur, regardless of their location in the
specimen, and not after extensive crystallization has taken
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
place. The wax crystals that precipitate at lower temperatures
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
are typically, but not excluded to, straight-chain hydrocarbons
Subcommittee D02.07 on Flow Properties.
and lipids.
Current edition approved May 1, 2017. Published May 2017. Originally
approved in 2007. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as D7397 – 10 (2016).
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
DOI: 10.1520/D7397-17.
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 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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D7397 − 17
3.2.1 D2500/IP 219 equivalent cloud point, n—temperature 5.2 Petroleum blending operations require a precise m
...

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: D7397 − 10 (Reapproved 2016) D7397 − 17
Standard Test Method for
Cloud Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels
1
(Miniaturized Optical Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7397; 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 the determination of the cloud point of petroleum products and biodiesel fuels that are transparent
in layers 40 mm in thickness by an automatic instrument.
1.2 This test method covers the range of temperatures from –60 °C to +20 °C with temperature resolution of 0.1 °C; however,
the range of temperatures included in the 2006 interlaboratory cooperative test program only covered the temperature range of
–35 °C to +12 °C. See Section 13.
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 and health 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:
D2500 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D5773 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels (Constant Cooling Rate Method)
3
2.2 Energy Institute Standards:
IP 219 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
IP 446 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 biodiesel, n—fuel comprising mono-alkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats,
designated B100.
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
D02.07 on Flow Properties.
Current edition approved April 1, 2016May 1, 2017. Published May 2016May 2017. Originally approved in 2007. Last previous edition approved in 20102016 as
D7397 – 10.D7397 – 10 (2016). DOI: 10.1520/D7397-10R16.10.1520/D7397-17.
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 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.
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).
*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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D7397 − 17
3.1.2 biodiesel blend (BXX), n—blend of biodiesel fuel with petroleum-based diesel fuel designated BXX, where XX is the
volume percentage (as a whole number without the percentage sign) of biodiesel.
3.1.3 cloud point, n—in petroleum products and biodiesel fuels, the temperature of a liquid specimen when the smallest
observable cluster of hydrocarbonwax crystals first occurs upon cooling under prescribed conditions.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—
The cloud point occurs when the temperature of the specimen is low enough to cause hydrocarbonwax crystals to precipitate. In
a homogeneous liquid, the cloud is always noted first at the location in the specimen where the specimen temperature is the lowest.
The cloud point is the temperature at which the crysta
...