Aviation Fuel Testing

Determination of the acid constituents in aviation turbine kerosine (ATK) at levels below 0.100mg KOH/g, by colour indicator titration method. Trace acids remaining after treatment during the refining of aviation turbine fuels may cause corrosion of metals or impair the water separation characteristics of the fuel. This method is more sensitive at low levels than IP139.

Determination of thiol sulphur (mercaptan sulphur) in light distillates, such as gasoline and naphtha fractions, and middle distillate fuels, such as kerosine and gas oil, in the range of 0.0003 to 0.0100% (m/m), (3 to 100 mg/kg). Organic sulphur compounds, such as sulphides, disulphides and thiophene do not interfere. Elemental sulphur does not interfere at contents less than 0.0005% (m/m). Hydrogen sulphide interferes if not removed.

Doctor test for detecting the presence of mercaptans (thiols), hydrogen sulphide, elemental sulphur and peroxide in automotive fuels, kerosines and other middle distillate petroleum products. The presence of a number of substances in the test sample can affect the result of the test: Peroxides – only suitable for trace levels of peroxides; Carbon disulphide and phenolic substances can impact the test.

Determination of the distillation characteristics of light and middle distillates derived from petroleum and having initial boiling points above 0°C and end point below approximately 400°C.

The determination of the manual and automated closed- cup flash pint of combustible liquids having flash points between -30.0°C to 75°C. However, the precision given for this method is only valid for flash points in the range -8.5°C to 75.0°C. This standard is not applicable to water-borne paints. Liquids containing halogenated compounds can give anomalous results.

A UKAS ISO17025 accredited method for the determination of the density of crude petroleum and related products within the range 600 to 1100 kg/m3 by oscillating U-tube density meter. Suitable for liquids of any vapour pressure, that can be kept a single phase with light end evaporation. The density value measured at one temperature can be converted to the density at another temperature using petroleum measurement tables.

Test method for the determination of the temperature below which solid hydrocarbon crystals form in aviation turbine fuels. This test method can be used over the temperature range of -80 to 20°C, but the precision is only determined over the range -60 °C to -42°C.

Method for determination of density (15°C) by glass hydrometer of crude petroleum, and hydrocarbon liquids with a Reid vapour pressure (RVP) of ≤100 kPa. This method can be used for viscous liquids by carrying out at a higher temperature. It can also be used for opaque liquids.

Determination of the kinematic and dynamic viscosities of transparent and opaque liquid hydrocarbons. The time for a volume of liquid to flow through a calibrated glass capillary viscometer under gravity is measured and the kinematic viscosity calculated by multiplying this time by the Viscometer Constant. Dynamic viscosity is kinematic viscosity x density. The range of kinematic viscosities covered by this test method is from 0.2 mm2/s to 300000mm2/s over the temperature range -20°C to +150°C.

The manual and automated procedure to determine the smoke point of kerosene. The smoke point of kerosene is related to the hydrocarbon type composition and provides an indication of relative smoke- producing properties in a diffusion flame. The automated procedure is the referee procedure.

This standard specifies a method for the determination of the corrosiveness to copper of liquid petroleum products and certain solvents. Volatile products, having a maximum vapour pressure of 124 kPa at 37.8°C are included.

JFTOT procedure for rating the tendencies of aviation gas turbine fuel to deposit decomposition products within the fuel system. The test results are indicative of fuel stability during gas turbine operating and can be used to assess the level of deposits that form when liquid fuel contacts a heated surface at a specified temperature.

Determination of the existent gum content of aviation turbine fuel. Large quantities of gum are indicative of contamination of fuel by higher boiling oils or particulate matter and generally reflect poor handling practices in distribution downstream of the refinery.

This method is intended for the direct quantitative determination of commercial 2,4-dimethyl, 6-tertiary butyl phenol in aviation turbine fuels over the concentration range 5-40 mg/l by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

This standard describes a procedure for determining the static dissipater additive (SDA) content of aviation turbine fuel over the range 1 mg/l to 12 mg/l, by solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The SDA used to develop this test method was STADIS® 450 for aviation fuels.

Determination of the electrical rest conductivity of aviation and distillate fuels, with or without a static dissipater additive, in the range 1 pS/m to 1500 pS/m using a portable meter. Conductivities greater than 1500 pS/m can be measured but there is no precision for these values. Please note that equipment manufacturer’s instructions would be followed in the case.

Determination of the level of dispersed particles in aviation turbine fuel, specifically dirt particles and water droplets in the range from 4 μm(C) to 30 μm(C), up to a maximum of 60,000 cumulative counts per ml.

Method for the determination of mono-aromatic and di-aromatic hydrocarbon contents in aviation kerosenes and petroleum distillates boiling in the range 50°C to 300°C. This method is applicable to distillates containing 0 to 75% m/m mono-aromatic hydrocarbons and 0 to 25% m/m di-aromatic hydrocarbons.

This test method is to quantify viable aerobic microorganisms present as contaminants in middle distillate fuels, gasolines, biofuel blends and residual fuels and associated water. The procedure quantitatively assess the viable aerobic microbial content as microbial colony forming units (cfu) and determines whether the microbial contamination in samples drawn from fuel tanks and systems is absent or present at light, moderate and heavy levels.

Gravimetric determination of particulate contamination in aviation turbine fuel by filtration. Due to the difficulty associated with obtaining reliable results, a single one-off determination by this method is of limited value. This method is used to indicate significant trends or changes in particulate levels at specific locations where typical values have been established. This information may be used to monitor the impact of operational changes. Precision has only been determined for 51 samples in the range 0.00 mg/l to 0.60mg/l. Particulate matter present in aviation turbine fuels should be minimised to avoid filter plugging and operational problems. Tolerable levels of particulate contaminants are not established for all points in fuel distribution systems but have to be stringently controlled.

Method for the identification and quantification fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) as a contaminant in aviation turbine fuel (AVTUR) by SIM mode GC/MS. This method measures the most common FAMEs in the range 4.5 to 150 mg/kg. Lighter FAME - eg that derived from coconut oil - may be subject to interference from AVTUR components and may not be quantified at low levels.

This test method covers the determination of total sulphur in petroleum and petroleum products in the range 20 - 1000 mg/Kg. These materials can include diesel fuel, jet fuel, kerosine, other distillate oil, naphtha, residual oil, lubricating base oil, hydraulic oil, crude oil, unleaded gasoline, gasohol, biodiesel, and similar petroleum products. For samples with high oxygen contents (>3 wt %) sample dilution or matrix matching must be performed to assure accurate results.

This test method covers the determination, by ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry, of the total concentration of naphthalene, acenaphthene, and alkylated derivatives of these hydrocarbons in jet fuels. This test method is designed to analyze fuels containing not more than 5% of such components and determines the maximum amount of naphthalenes that could be present.

This test method covers a rapid portable means for field and laboratory use to rate the ability of aviation turbine fuels to release entrained or emulsified water when passed through fiberglass coalescing material. The procedure section of this test method contains two different modes of test equipment operation. The primary difference between the modes of operation is the rate of fuel flow through the fiberglass coalescing material. Test method selection is dependent on the particular fuel to be tested.

This test method covers the determination of the colour of refined oils such as undyed motor and aviation gasoline, jet propulsion fuels, naphthas, kerosine, petroleum waxes and pharmaceutical white oils. NOTE: For determining the color of petroleum products darker than Saybolt Color − 16, see Test Method D1500. This test method reports results specific to this test method and recorded as "Saybolt Color units."

Procedure 1 provides a rapid pass/fail method for estimating the presence of suspended free water and solid particulate contamination in distillate fuels having distillation end points below 400°C and an ASTM colour of 5 or less.