Significance and Use

Accurate elemental analysis of petroleum products and lubricants is necessary for the determination of chemical properties, which are used to establish compliance with commercial and regulatory specifications.

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry is one of the more widely used analytical techniques in the oil industry for multi-element analysis as evident from at least twelve standard test methods (for example, Test Methods C1111 , D1976 , D4951 , D5184 , D5185 , D5600 , D5708 , D6130 , D6349 , , D7040 , D7111 , D7303 , and D7691 ) published for the analysis of fossil fuels and related materials. These have been briefly summarized by Nadkarni.

The advantages of using an ICP-AES analysis include high sensitivity for many elements of interest in the oil industry, relative freedom from interferences, linear calibration over a wide dynamic concentration range, single or multi-element capability, and ability to calibrate the instrument based on elemental standards irrespective of their elemental chemical forms, within limits described below such as solubility and volatility assuming direct liquid aspiration. Thus, the technique has become a method of choice in most of the oil industry laboratories for metal analyses of petroleum products and lubricants.

1. Scope

1.1 This practice covers information on the calibration and operational guidance for the multi-element measurements using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).

1.2 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 (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products

D4307 Practice for Preparation of Liquid Blends for Use as Analytical Standards

D6299 Practice for Applying Statistical Quality Assurance and Control Charting Techniques to Evaluate Analytical Measurement System Performance

D6792 Practice for Quality System in Petroleum Products and Lubricants Testing Laboratories

Other Standards

Keywords

elemental analysis; emission spectrometry; fuels analysis; ICP-AES; inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry; lubricant analysis;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 75.080 (Petroleum products in general); 75.100 (Lubricants, industrial oils and related products)

DOI: 10.1520/D7260-12

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM D7260