ASTM D5501: Standard Test Method for Determination of Ethanol and Methanol Content in Fuels Containing Greater than 20% Ethanol by Gas Chromatography

This test method covers the determination of the ethanol content of hydrocarbon blends containing greater than 20% ethanol. This method is applicable to denatured fuel ethanol, ethanol fuel blends, and mid-level ethanol blends.

Ethanol is determined from 20 mass% to 100 mass% and methanol is determined from 0.01 mass% to 0.6 mass%. Equations used to convert these individual alcohols from mass% to volume% are provided.

NOTE 1—Fuels containing less than 20% ethanol may be quantified using Test Method D5599, and less than 12% ethanol may be quantified using Test Method D4815.

This test method does not purport to identify all individual components common to ethanol production or those components that make up the denaturant or hydrocarbon constituent of the fuel.

Water cannot be determined by this test method and shall be measured by a procedure such as Test Method D1364 and the result used to correct the concentrations determined by this method.

This test method is inappropriate for impurities that boil at temperatures higher than 225°C or for impurities that cause poor or no response in a flame ionization detector, such as water.

The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information purposes only.

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.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

E85

denaturant

denatured

ethanol

ethanol concentration

fuel ethanol

gas chromatography

methanol