Significance and Use
5.1 The present and growing international governmental requirements to add FAME (biodiesel, as specified in standards such as Specification D6751 and EN 14214) to diesel fuel has had the side effect of leading to potential FAME contamination of jet turbine fuel in multifuel transport facilities such as cargo tankers and pipelines. FAME has been added as an identified incident material to Table 3 of Specification D1655 in which a permitted level of contamination is specified.
5.2 This test method has been developed for use in the supply chain by nonspecialized personnel to detect all kinds of FAME covering the range of 10 mg/kg to 400 mg/kg.
Scope
1.1 This test method covers the quantification of the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) content in aviation turbine fuel in the range of 10 mg/kg to 400 mg/kg by measuring infrared (IR) transmission before, during, and after FAME is converted to molecules that absorb in a different spectral region than FAME using a selective chemical reaction facilitated by a suitable catalyst.
NOTE 1: This test method detects all FAME components with peak IR absorbance at approximately 1749 cm-1 and C8 to C22 carbon chain length. The accuracy of this test method is based on the molecular weight of C16 to C18 FAME species. The presence of other FAME species with different molecular weights could affect the accuracy.
NOTE 2: Additives such as antistatic agents, antioxidants, and corrosion inhibitors are measured with the FAME by mid IR absorption. However, these additives do not contribute to the differential absorption spectrum used to quantify FAME, as they do not take part in the selective reaction.
1.2 This test method has interim repeatability precision only, see Section 15 for more information.
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific warning statements are given in Section 8.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.