Significance and Use
Asphaltenes are the organic molecules of highest molecular mass and carbon-hydrogen ratio normally occurring in crude petroleum and petroleum products containing residual material. They may give problems during storage and handling if the suspension of asphaltene molecules is disturbed through excess stress or incompatibility. They are also the last molecules in a product to combust completely, and thus may be one indicator of black smoke propensity. Their composition normally includes a disproportionately high quantity of the sulfur, nitrogen, and metals present in the crude petroleum or petroleum product.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for the determination of the heptane insoluble asphaltene content of gas oil, diesel fuel, residual fuel oils, lubricating oil, bitumen, and crude petroleum that has been topped to an oil temperature of 260ˌC (see ).
1.2 The precision is applicable to values between 0.50 and 30.0 % m/m. Values outside this range may still be valid but may not give the same precision values.
1.3 Oils containing additives may give erroneous results.
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.
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 annex covers a procedure for the preparation of a crude petroleum residue (topped to an oil temperature of 260C) suitable for the determination of asphaltene content (see ).
2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) 
The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.
ASTM Standards
D86 Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products at Atmospheric Pressure
D1298 Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity), or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method
D4052 Test Method for Density and Relative Density of Liquids by Digital Density Meter
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
IP Standard
SpecificationsforIPS
Index Terms
asphaltenes; bitumen; crude petroleum; diesel fuel; gas oil; heptane insoluble residues; lubricating oil; residual fuel oils;
ICS Code
ICS Number Code 75.080 (Petroleum products in general)
DOI: 10.1520/D6560-00R05
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.
Citing ASTM Standards
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