Gas Oil / Diesel / Middle Distillates

BS EN 590 specifies the requirements and test methods for automotive diesel fuel sold in the UK. The specification allows for a Fatty Acid Methyl Ester* (FAME) content of up to 7.0% (v/v) * refers to FAME conforming to BS EN 14214 (Liquid petroleum products: Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) for use in diesel engines and heating applications- Requirements and test methods). The INEOS Laboratory can test diesel product with FAME content up to 7% to BS EN590. The INEOS laboratory can also test diesel components.

BS 2869 is the UK specification for fuel oils for agricultural, domestic and industrial engines and boilers. Class D relates to middle distillate fuels for commercial and industrial fixed combustion applications. This grade can contain up to 0.1% sulphur and up to 7% FAME* *refers to FAME conforming to BS EN 14214 (Liquid petroleum products: Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) for use in diesel engines and heating applications - Requirements and test methods).

BS 2869 is the UK specification for fuel oils for agricultural, domestic and industrial engines and boilers. Class C relates to kerosene type burner fuels.

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.

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.

Method for the determination of the cold filter blocking tendency (CFBT) of diesel fuel containing 0 to 20% biodiesel.

A UKAS ISO17025 accredited method for the determination of the sulphur content of petroleum products such as naphtha, unleaded motor gasoline, middle distillates, residual fuel oil, base lubricating oil and their components. The method is for products with sulphur content of 0.03 to 5.00 % (m/m). Heavy metal additives, eg lead alkyls, and some elements may interfere with the measurement.

Method B: Determination of the filter blocking tendency (FBT) of middle distillate fuel oils and non-petroleum liquid fuels such as biodiesel and is applicable to fuels within the viscosity range of 1.5mm2/s to 6.0mm2/s at 40°C. The test produces a dimensionless value that defines the filter blocking tendency of a fuel caused by particulates. The value is calculated using the pressure across the filter or volume of fuel filtered at the end of the test.

Determination of the distillation characteristics of light and middle distillates at atmospheric pressure, by automatic apparatus. Samples will typically have end points below 400°C.

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.

Pensky-Martens closed cup flash point test, for combustible liquids, with a flash point above 40°C. For condition monitoring of lube oils, Procedure A should be used for used and unused lubricating oils.

Test method for the determination of sulphur content in the range 3 to 500 mg/kg by ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence. This method is suitable for motor gasoline (petrol) containing up to 3.7% (m/m) oxygen - including those blended with ethanol up to about 10% (BS EN 228) and diesel fuels, including those containing up to 10% (V/V) fatty acid methylester (FAME), (BS EN590) and other products and feed streams. Halogens >3500 mg/kg interfere with this measurement. For diesel containing cetane improver the sample should be checked for nitrogen interference. The sulphur content is measured by pyrolysis of the sample followed by detection by UV fluorescence. For sulphur content <3ppm, ASTM D5453 is used.

Determination of the smoke point of kerosine (manual and automatic). The smoke point is associated with the hydrocarbon types in the kerosine.

Test method for the evaluation of the burning properties of kerosene, which is used for illumination and/or heating purposes, in the range 0 - 30 mg/kg.

Method B: Detection and quantification of Coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone) in marked kerosene within the 0.2 – 4.0 mg/l range by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Note: 2 mg/l is the level of addition in the UK set by HMRC.

Determination of the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of diesel and domestic heating fuels using either manual or automated test equipment (both of which are suitable for referee purposes). This method is also applicable to fuels containing flow-improving additives and will give an indication of the lowest temperature at which a fuel will give trouble free flow in the fuel system. The difference in results obtained from the sample as received and after heat treatment at 45° C for 30 min can be used to investigate issues observed during use at low temperature.

Determination of the cloud point of petroleum products and biodiesel fuels that are transparent in layers 40 mm in thickness by automatic instrument with an optical detection device to record the appearance of the cloud point. The test method is applicable to products with cloud points in the range -60°C to +49 °C. The test method produces results to the nearest 0.1°C, which, when rounded to the nearest lower integer, are equivalent to those of the manual procedure IP219.

Method for the determination of the cloud point of petroleum products which are transparent in layers 40 mm in thickness and have a cloud point below 49 °C.

Method for the determination of the pour point of petroleum products. A separate procedure suitable for the determination of the lower pour point of fuel oils, heavy lubricant base stock, and products containing residual fuel components is also described.

This method measures Quinizarin in marked gas oil in the range 0.04 - 3.00 mg/l. The Quinizarin is first extracted from the fuel and then analysed by UV/Vis spectrophotometer. Quantification is by comparison of the visible absorption spectrum to that of a standard solution.

Determination of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) content in diesel fuel or domestic heating fuel by mid infrared spectrometry. The method covers two ranges - A: FAME contents of 0.05 to 3% (V/V); B: FAME contents of 3 to 20% (V/V). Higher FAME contents can be measured if diluted. This test method is applicable to samples which contain FAME conforming to EN 14214 or EN 14213. Esters and other carbonyl compounds which possess absorption bands in the spectral region used for quantification of FAME will interfere with the result. For conversion of grams FAME per litre (g FAME/l) to volume fraction, a fixed density for FAME of 883.0 kg/m3 is adopted.

Determination of the content of undissolved substances (total contamination) in the range 12 to 30 mg/kg for diesel fuels (EN 590) containing up to 30% (V/V) fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and neat FAME (EN 14214). For other petroleum the method may be applicable, but no precision data is available. Excessive contamination in a fuel system can give rise to filter blocking or hardware failure.

This method determines the lubricating property of diesel fuels (including fuels which may contain a lubricity enhancing additive) using a high frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR). All diesel fuel injection equipment has some reliance on diesel fuel as a lubricant. Wear due to excessive friction resulting in shortened life of engine components such as diesel fuel injection pumps and injectors has sometimes been attributed to lack of lubricity in fuel. The wear scar on a test ball oscillating, under prescribed conditions, against a steel plate immersed in sample is measured. The ambient conditions during the test are used to correct the size of the wear scar generated on the test ball to a standard set of ambient conditions. The corrected wear scar diameter is a measure of the fluid lubricity. Results are reported as corrected wear scar diameter (WS1.4) to the nearest 1µm at 60°C.

This test method covers the quantitative determination of the derived cetane number of diesel fuels (BS EN590), including those containing cetane improver additives. The test method may also be applied to biodiesel and diesel blending components. This test method utilizes a constant volume combustion chamber with direct fuel injection into heated, compressed synthetic air. A dynamic pressure wave is produced from the combustion of the sample. An equation converts the ignition delay and the combustion delay determined from the dynamic pressure curve to a derived cetane number (DCN). This test method covers the ignition delay ranging from 1.9 to 25 ms and combustion delay ranging from 2.5 to 160 ms (30 to 70 DCN).

Procedure for the calculation of the Cetane Index by Four-variable Equation of middle-distillate fuel. Cetane index is used to estimate the cetane number of diesel fuel when a test engine is not available This calculation is not valid for fuels containing cetane enhancing additives, pure hydrocarbons or distillate fuels derived from coal. It is applicable to fuels containing non-petroleum derivatives from oil shale.

Method for the measurement of stability of middle-distillate petroleum fuels, in particular diesel, under accelerated aging conditions (oxidation stability) as an indication of the storage stability of the fuel. Method applies to middle distillates with initial boiling point above 175°C and a 90% (v/v) recovery point below 370°C. Oxidation causes the formation of insoluble species. The presence of catalytic species (eg Cu, Cr) will increase the amount of insolubles presents, which will affect the result of this test.

Colour-indicator titration method for the determination of acid or basic constituents in petroleum products and lubricants. It is applicable for the determination of acids or bases whose dissociation constants in water are greater than 10-9; extremely weak acids or bases whose dissociation constants in water are less than 10-9 do not interfere. Salts react if their hydrolysis constants are greater than 10-9

Determination of the acidic constituents in petroleum products and lubricating oils in groups with ‘weak acid’ and ‘strong acid’ ionisation properties. The method may be used to indicate as part of condition monitoring of lubricating oil, but is not an absolute measure of acidity. NOTE 1: In new and used lubricating oils, the constituents that may be considered to have acidic characteristics include organic and inorganic acids, esters, phenolic compounds, lactones, resins, salts of heavy metals, salts of ammonia and other weak bases, acid salts of polybasic acids and additives such as inhibitors and detergents. NOTE 2: The acid number obtained by this standard may or may not be numerically the same as that obtained in accordance with IP139.

Determination of water in petroleum products boiling below 390°C. It covers the mass fraction range 0.003% (m/m) to 0.100% (m/m). It is not applicable to products containing ketones or residual fuel oils. It may be applicable to lubricating base oils; however the precision has not been established for these materials.

A UKAS ISO17025 accredited method for the determination of the ash content of petroleum products in the range 0.001 - 0.180% (m/m). Method is not applicable when ash-forming additives are present.

Determination of carbon residue, in the range 0.10 to 30.0% (m/m), left after evaporation and pyrolysis of petroleum products under specified conditions. For products which yield a residue in excess of 0.10% (m/m), the test results are equivalent to those obtained by the Conradson carbon residue test. The carbon residue value may show the tendency of petroleum products to form carbonaceous deposits under similar degradation. Organic nitrates will interfere with the results if present.

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. Procedure 2 provides a gross numerical rating of haze appearance.

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. Procedure 2 provides a gross numerical rating of haze appearance.

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 2000 pS/m using a portable meter.

Method for the determination of the oxidation stability of fuels for diesel engines, by means of measuring the induction period of the fuel. The method is applicable to: • Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) which is intended for use as pure biofuel or as a blending component for diesel fuels. • Blends of FAME with diesel fuel containing a minimum of 2% v/v of FAME

Detection and enumeration of contaminating microbes in fuel, lubricants and water. Many microbes are able to grow in water or dispersed in fuels and oils, attacking and feeding on the hydrocarbons and the additives present and causing fouling and corrosion. This test method can be used for petroleum products, such as aviation fuel, marine diesels, gas oils, heavy fuels, automotive diesel and gasoline, bio-fuels, lubricants and hydraulic oils. The test will also detect microbes in water, eg from the tank drains, and other fluids. This method detects the important bacteria, yeasts and mould which can contaminate petroleum products including Hormoconis resinae, Aspergillus, Candida and Pseudomonas species.