Work Item
ASTM WK89181
New Test Method for Determination of Total Biodiesel Esters and Hydrocarbon Types in Middle Distillate and Renewable Fuels by Supercritical Fluid Chromatography1
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the quantitation of the total biodiesel esters and total aromatics of 1-ring mono-aromatic, 2-ring di-aromatic, tri+ polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in middle distillate and renewable fuels by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). The range of total aromatics concentration to which this test method is applicable is from 1.4 to 52.7 mass %. The range of polyaromatic hydrocarbon concentrations to which this test method is applicable is from 0.5 to 21.2 mass %. The range of biodiesel ester concentrations to which this test method is applicable is from 1.7 to 37.2 mass %.
1.1.1 This test method can be used for the analyses of the hydrocarbons in biodiesel-free fuels.
1.1.2 This test method can be used for the analyses of fuels, such as Synthetic and Renewable fuels that contain less than 1.4% total aromatics.
Keywords
aromatic hydrocarbons; biofuel; aromatics; diesel fuel; monoaromatics; polynuclear; polynuclear aromatics; supercritical fluid chromatography; biodiesel; biodiesel esters; esters; FAME; fatty acid methyl esters
Rationale
Currently ASTM D5186 is used to determine the total aromatic and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon content in Diesel Fuels. D5186 is an excepted standard for the measurement of aromatics by regulatory agencies such as California Air Resources board and the EPA . D5186 cannot be used for Diesel Fuels blended with Biodiesel Esters, as the esters elute from the silica column after the polynuclear aromatics. If biodiesel remains on the silica column, erroneous aromatic results are reported.
A new test method is needed to separate the biodiesel from the diesel to eliminate the interference and to determine the total aromatic and polynuclear content and total biodiesel content in the biodiesel/Diesel blend.
Refiners, blenders, independent testing laboratories and regulatory agencies will use this new standard.
The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within this ASTM Committee.
Work Item Status
Date Initiated: 01-10-2024
Technical Contact: Jody Clark
Item: 000
Ballot:
Status: