prEN 18051
(Main)Automotive fuels - Determination of content of butoxy-benzene in middle distillates - Gas chromatographic method using a flame ionization detector (GC-FID)
Automotive fuels - Determination of content of butoxy-benzene in middle distillates - Gas chromatographic method using a flame ionization detector (GC-FID)
This document specifies a test method for the determination of the content of n-butyl phenyl ether (BPE, CAS: 1126-79-0, also known as butoxy-benzene) in gas oils, kerosene, diesel fuel and biodiesel blends. The method uses a two-column gas chromatograph with an FID-type of detector. The application range is 0,27 mg/l to 19,75 mg/l of BPE, with the minimum and maximum reporting levels being 0,09 mg/l, respectively 21,89 mg/l .
NOTE This corresponds to 1 % to 185 % of the average marking level of the ACCUTRACE™ Plus required by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/197 [1] of 17 January 2022 establishing a common fiscal marker for gas oils and kerosene.
The method is found to be applicable to determinations beyond this range or for specific other chemical markers that fall within the distillation temperature range of middle-distillates, but for that no precision has been determined.
WARNING — The use of this document can involve hazardous materials, operations and equipment. This document does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this document to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Kraftstoffe - Bestimmung des Gehalts von Butoxybenzol in Mitteldestillaten - Gaschromatographisches Verfahren mit Flammenionisationsdetektor (GC-FID)
Carburants pour automobiles - Détermination de la teneur en butoxybenzène dans les distillats moyens - Méthode par chromatographie en phase gazeuse utilisant un détecteur à ionisation de flamme (CPG-DIF)
Motorna goriva - Določanje vsebnosti butoksibenzena v srednjih destilatih - Metoda plinske kromatografije z uporabo plamensko ionizacijskega detektorja (GC-FID)
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2025
Motorna goriva - Določanje vsebnosti butoksibenzena v srednjih destilatih -
Metoda plinske kromatografije z uporabo plamensko ionizacijskega detektorja
(GC-FID)
Automotive fuels - Determination of content of butoxy-benzene in middle distillates - Gas
chromatographic method using a flame ionization detector (GC-FID)
Kraftstoffe - Bestimmung des Gehalts von Butoxybenzol in Mitteldestillaten -
Gaschromatographisches Verfahren mit Flammenionisationsdetektor (GC-FID)
Carburants pour automobiles - Détermination de la teneur en butoxybenzène dans les
distillats moyens - Méthode par chromatographie en phase gazeuse utilisant un
détecteur à ionisation de flamme (CPG-DIF)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 18051
ICS:
71.040.50 Fizikalnokemijske analitske Physicochemical methods of
metode analysis
75.160.20 Tekoča goriva Liquid fuels
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
September 2025
ICS 75.160.20; 75.160.40 Will supersede EN 18051:2024
English Version
Automotive fuels - Determination of content of butoxy-
benzene in middle distillates - Gas chromatographic
method using a flame ionization detector (GC-FID)
Carburants pour automobiles - Détermination de la Kraftstoffe - Bestimmung des Gehalts von
teneur en butoxybenzène dans les distillats moyens - Butoxybenzol in Mitteldestillaten -
Méthode par chromatographie en phase gazeuse Gaschromatographisches Verfahren mit
utilisant un détecteur à ionisation de flamme (CPG- Flammenionisationsdetektor (GC-FID)
DIF)
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 19.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 18051:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations . 5
3.1 Terms and definitions . 5
3.2 Abbreviations . 5
4 Principle . 6
5 Reagents and materials . 6
6 Apparatus . 6
7 Sampling . 8
8 Preparation and handling of working solutions . 8
8.1 Preparation of stock calibration solution . 8
8.2 Preparation of working calibration solution (WCS) . 8
8.3 Preparation of linearity working solution (LWS) . 9
8.4 Storage of solutions . 9
9 Apparatus preparation . 9
9.1 Gas chromatograph preparation . 9
9.2 System performance check . 9
9.2.1 Determine heart-cutting time . 9
9.2.2 Peak skew check. 10
9.2.3 Linearity check . 11
9.2.4 Determine response factor . 11
10 Procedure . 11
10.1 Initial step . 11
10.2 Validation analysis . 12
10.3 Sample analysis . 12
11 Calculation . 12
12 Expression of results . 13
13 Precision . 13
13.1 General. 13
13.2 Repeatability . 13
13.3 Reproducibility . 13
14 Test report . 14
Annex A (normative) Typical GC settings . 15
A.1 Recommended GC setting . 15
A.2 Exemplary chromatograms . 16
Bibliography . 17
European foreword
This document (prEN 18051:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 19 “Gaseous and
liquid fuels, lubricants and related products of petroleum, synthetic and biological origin”, the secretariat
of which is held by NEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 18051:2024. After a second interlaboratory study using better
controlled samples, new precision statements have been developed, and a slight change of scope
application has been introduced. Also, some more detail on the test procedure is presented.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supports implementation in the market of the Decision [1] of the European Commission
with regards to common distillate fuel marking.
Introduction
For the proper functioning of the internal market, the European Commission has established Directives
providing for a common marking system to identify gas oils and kerosene, which have been released for
consumption exempt from excise duty, or which are subject to a reduced excise duty rate. In a review in
2019, the Commission’s evaluation identified the shortcomings of the actual marker (Solvent Yellow 124)
in terms of its lack of resilience to common removal methods.
Consequently, a new, colourless chemical marker, Butoxybenzene (CAS Registry Number 1126-79-0),
was chosen to replace Solvent Yellow 124 as of 18 January 2024. This product or fiscal marker is
TM 1
commercially available as ACCUTRACE PLUS from DOW.
At the time of publication of the decision [1], a gas chromatography technique using a mass spectrometer
(GC-MS) as detector was promoted by DOW. That technique didn’t have a full precision. The first contacts
in 2022 with the European Commission and the EU Customs laboratories led CEN to conclude that the
GC-MS would not be further standardized.
This document has then been developed to present a simpler alternative to the market compared to the
GC-MS method.
The test method described in this document is based on a standard [2] previously prepared for a former
fuel marker, ACCUTRACE™ S101 (3-secbutyl-4-decyloxyphenylmethanetriyltribenzene), which is used in
a few European countries.
To determine the initial method precision, CEN cooperated with the EU Customs laboratories (CLEN) who
studied an improvement of the GC-MS method. The two organizations used the same samples to develop
precision. Bias of this document against the ILIAD 606 method [3] has not been determined in that study.
As for some reasons the sample distribution in the combined study didn’t go as could be expected, the
initial precision was not as expected via the pilot study by CEN. Hence a new study was performed that
resulted in an improved precision and better-defined scope of application.
Accutrace PLUS and ACCUTRACE S10 are the trade names of products supplied by DOW Chemicals. This
information is given for the convenience of users of this document and does not constitute an endorsement by CEN
of the product named. Equivalent products may be used.
1 Scope
This document specifies a test method for the determination of the content of n-butyl phenyl ether (BPE,
CAS: 1126-79-0, also known as butoxy-benzene) in gas oils, kerosene, diesel fuel and biodiesel blends.
The method uses a two-column gas chromatograph with an FID-type of detector. The application range
is 0,27 mg/l to 19,75 mg/l of BPE, with the minimum and maximum reporting levels being 0,09 mg/l,
respectively 21,89 mg/l.
NOTE This corresponds to 1 % to 185 % of the average marking level of the ACCUTRACE™ Plus required by
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/197 [1] of 17 January 2022 establishing a common fiscal marker
for gas oils and kerosene.
The method is found to be applicable to determinations beyond this range or for specific other chemical
markers that fall within the distillation temperature range of middle-distillates, but for that no precision
has been determined.
WARNING — The use of this document can involve hazardous materials, operations and equipment. This
document does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this document to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN ISO 3170, Hydrocarbon Liquids — Manual Sampling (ISO 3170)
EN ISO 3171, Petroleum liquids — Automatic pipeline sampling (ISO 3171)
3 Terms, definition
...
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