ASTM D6352 test method for boiling range distribution of petroleum distillates
ASTM D6352 standard test method for boiling range distribution of petroleum distillates in boiling range from 174 to 700°C by gas chromatography
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 The boiling range distribution determination by distillation is simulated by the use of gas chromatography. A non-polar open tubular (capillary) gas chromatographic column is used to elute the hydrocarbon components of the sample in order of increasing boiling point.
4.2 A sample aliquot is diluted with a viscosity reducing solvent and introduced into the chromatographic system. Sample vaporization is provided by separate heating of the point of injection or in conjunction with column oven heating.
4.3 The column oven temperature is raised at a specified linear rate to affect separation of the hydrocarbon components in order of increasing boiling point. The elution of sample components is quantitatively determined using a flame ionization detector. The detector signal is recorded as area slices for consecutive retention time intervals during the analysis.
4.4 Retention times of known normal paraffin hydrocarbons, spanning the scope of the test method, are determined and correlated to their boiling point temperatures. The normalized cumulative corrected sample areas for each consecutive recorded time interval are used to calculate the boiling range distribution. The boiling point temperature at each reported percent off increment is calculated from the retention time calibration.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The boiling range distribution of medium and heavy petroleum distillate fractions provides an insight into the composition of feed stocks and products related to petroleum refining processes (for example, hydrocracking, hydrotreating, visbreaking, or deasphalting). The gas chromatographic simulation of this determination can be used to replace conventional distillation methods for control of refining operations. This test method can be used for product specification testing with the mutual agreement of interested parties.
5.2 This test method extends the scope of boiling range determination by gas chromatography to include medium and heavy petroleum distillate fractions beyond the scope of Test Method D2887 (538°C).
5.3 Boiling range distributions obtained by this test method have not been analyzed for correlation to those obtained by low efficiency distillation, such as with Test Method D86 or D1160.
