ASTM D5453 - Total Sulfur in Light Hydrocarbons, Spark Ignition Engine Fuel, Diesel Engine Fuel, and Engine Oil by Ultraviolet Fluorescence

Significance and Use

4.1 Some process catalysts used in petroleum and chemical refining can be poisoned when trace amounts of sulfur bearing materials are contained in the feedstocks. This test method can be used to determine sulfur in process feeds sulfur in finished products, and can also be used for purposes of regulatory control.

1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the determination of total sulfur in liquid hydrocarbons, boiling in the range from approximately 25 °C to 400 °C, with viscosities between approximately 0.2 cSt and 20 cSt (mm2/s) at room temperature.

1.2 Three separate interlaboratory studies (ILS) on precision, and three other investigations that resulted in an ASTM research report, have determined that this test method is applicable to naphthas, distillates, engine oil, ethanol, Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), and engine fuel such as gasoline, oxygen enriched gasoline (ethanol blends, E-85, M-85, RFG), diesel, biodiesel, diesel/biodiesel blends, and jet fuel. Samples containing 1.0 mg/kg to 8000 mg/kg total sulfur can be analyzed (Note 1).

NOTE 1: Estimates of the pooled limit of quantification (PLOQ) for the precision studies were calculated. Values ranged between less than 1.0 mg/kg and less than 5.0 mg/kg (see Section 9 and 16.1).

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

Extracted, with permission, from ASTM D5453-19a - Total Sulfur in Light Hydrocarbons, Spark Ignition Engine Fuel, Diesel Engine Fuel, and Engine Oil by Ultraviolet Fluorescence, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard may be purchased from ASTM International, astm.org