ASTM D5501 Standard Test Method for Determination of Ethanol Content of Denatured Fuel Ethanol by Gas Chromatography
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the ethanol content of denatured fuel ethanol by gas chromatography.
1.2 Ethanol is determined from 93 to 97 mass % and methanol is determined from 0.1 to 0.6 mass %. Equations used to convert these individual alcohols from mass % to volume % are provided.
1.3 This test method does identify and quantify methanol but does not purport to identify all individual components that make up the denaturant.
1.4 Water cannot be determined by this test method and shall be measured by a procedure such as Test Method D1364 and the result used to correct the chromatographic values.
1.5 This test method is inappropriate for impurities that boil at temperatures higher than 225°C or for impurities that cause poor or no response in a flame ionization detector, such as water.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information purposes only.
1.7 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
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1298 Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity), or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method
D1364 Test Method for Water in Volatile Solvents (Fischer Reagent Titration 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
D4307 Practice for Preparation of Liquid Blends for Use as Analytical Standards
D4626 Practice for Calculation of Gas Chromatographic Response Factors
D4806 Specification for Denatured Fuel Ethanol for Blending with Gasolines for Use as Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel
E 355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Relationships
E 594 Practice for Testing Flame Ionization Detectors Used in Gas Chromatography
E 1064 Test Method for Water in Organic Liquids by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions - This test method makes reference to many common gas chromatographic procedures, terms, and relationships. Detailed definitions can be found in Practices E 355 and E 594.
