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    ASTM D7963 - 14

    Standard Test Method for Determination of Contamination Level of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters in Middle Distillate and Residual Fuels Using Flow Analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy—Rapid Screening Method

    Active Standard ASTM D7963 | Developed by Subcommittee: D02.14

    Book of Standards Volume: 05.05

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    Significance and Use

    5.1 The present and growing international governmental requirements to add Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) to diesel fuel has had the unintended side-effect of leading to potential FAME contamination of fuels in multi-fuel transport facilities such as cargo tankers and pipelines, and industry wide concerns. This has led to a requirement to measure contamination levels in diesel and other fuels to assist custody transfer issues.

    5.2 Analytical methods have been developed with the capability of measuring down to <5 mg/kg levels of FAME in aviation turbine fuel (AVTUR), however these are complex, and require specialized personnel and laboratory facilities. This Rapid Screening method has been developed for use in the supply chain by non-specialized personnel to cover the range of 20 mg/kg to 200 000 mg/kg (0.002 % to 20 %).

    5.3 A similar procedure, Test Method D7797, is available for AVTUR in the range 20 mg/kg to 150 mg/kg. Test Method D7797 uses the same apparatus, with a specific model developed for AVTUR.

    1. Scope

    1.1 This test method specifies a rapid screening method using flow analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared (FA-FTIR) spectroscopy with partial least squares (PLS) processing for the quantitative determination of the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) contamination of middle distillates, in the range of 20 mg/kg to 1000 mg/kg, and of middle distillates and residual fuels, following dilution, for levels above 0.1 %.

    Note 1: Annex A2 describes a dilution procedure to significantly expand the measurement range above 1000 mg/kg for distillates and to enable measurement of residual oils

    Note 2: This test method detects all FAME components, with peak IR absorbance at approximately 1749 cm-1 and C8 to C22 molecules, as specified in standards such as D6751 and EN 14214. The accuracy of the test method is based on the molecular mass of C16 to C18 FAME species; the presence of other FAME species with different molecular masses could affect the accuracy.

    Note 3: Additives such as antistatic agents, antioxidants, and corrosion inhibitors are measured with the FAME by the FTIR spectrometer. However any potential interference effects of these additives are eliminated by the flow analysis processing.

    Note 4: Precision for middle distillate and residual fuel is provided in preliminary form at this time, details are given in Appendix X1.

    Note 5: The scope of this test method does not include aviation turbine fuel which is addressed by Test Method D7797.

    1.2 All stated values are in SI units.

    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 (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

    ASTM Standards

    D1298 Test Method for Density, Relative Density, or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method

    D4052 Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity 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

    D6751 Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels

    D7797 Test Method for Determination of the Fatty Acid Methyl Esters Content of Aviation Turbine Fuel Using Flow Analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy - Rapid Screening Method

    E1655 Practices for Infrared Multivariate Quantitative Analysis

    CEN Standard

    EN 14214 Automotive Fuels--Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) for Diesel Engines--Requirements and Test Methods

    Energy Institute Standards

    IP 583 Test Method for Determination of the Fatty Acid Methyl Esters Content of Aviation Turbine Fuel Using Flow Analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy--Rapid Screening Method

    ICS Code

    ICS Number Code 75.160.20 (Liquid fuels)

    UNSPSC Code

    UNSPSC Code 12352108(Esters or its substitutes)

    Referencing This Standard
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    DOI: 10.1520/D7963-14

    Citation Format

    ASTM D7963-14, Standard Test Method for Determination of Contamination Level of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters in Middle Distillate and Residual Fuels Using Flow Analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy—Rapid Screening Method, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2014, www.astm.org

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