ASTM D2887 Boiling Range Distribution of Petroleum Fractions by Gas Chromatography
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the boiling range distribution of petroleum products. The test method is applicable to petroleum products and fractions having a final boiling point of 538°C (1000°F) or lower at atmospheric pressure as measured by this test method. This test method is limited to samples having a boiling range greater than 55°C (100°F), and having a vapor pressure sufficiently low to permit sampling at ambient temperature.
1.2 This test method is not to be used for the analysis of gasoline samples or gasoline components. These types of samples must be analyzed by Test Method D3710.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for information only.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D86 Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products at Atmospheric Pressure
D1160 Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products at Reduced Pressure
D2892 Test Method for Distillation of Crude Petroleum (15-Theoretical Plate Column)
D3710 Test Method for Boiling Range Distribution of Gasoline and Gasoline Fractions by Gas Chromatography
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4626 Practice for Calculation of Gas Chromatographic Response Factors
D6708 Practice for Statistical Assessment and Improvement of the Expected Agreement Between Two Test Methods that Purport to Measure the Same Property of a Material
E 260 Practice for Packed Column Gas Chromatography
E 355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Relationships
E 516 Practice for Testing Thermal Conductivity Detectors Used in Gas Chromatography
E 594 Practice for Testing Flame Ionization Detectors Used in Gas or Supercritical Fluid Chromatography
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions - This test method makes reference to many common gas chromatographic procedures, terms, and relationships. Detailed definitions of these can be found in Practices E 260, E 355, and E 594.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 area slice - the area, resulting from the integration of the chromatographic detector signal, within a specified retention time interval. In area slice mode (see 6.3.2), peak detection parameters are bypassed and the detector signal integral is recorded as area slices of consecutive, fixed duration time intervals.
3.2.2 corrected area slice - an area slice corrected for baseline offset, by subtraction of the exactly corresponding area slice in a previously recorded blank (non-sample) analysis.
3.2.3 cumulative corrected area - the accumulated sum of corrected area slices from the beginning of the analysis through a given retention time, ignoring any non-sample area (for example, solvent).
3.2.4 final boiling point (FBP) - the temperature (corresponding to the retention time) at which a cumulative corrected area count equal to 99.5 % of the total sample area under the chromatogram is obtained.
3.2.5 initial boiling point (IBP) - the temperature (corresponding to the retention time) at which a cumulative corrected area count equal to 0.5 % of the total sample area under the chromatogram is obtained.
3.2.6 slice rate - the time interval used to integrate the continuous (analog) chromatographic detector response during an analysis. The slice rate is expressed in hertz (for example, integrations or slices per second).
3.2.7 slice time - the time associated with the end of each contiguous area slice. The slice time is equal to the slice number divided by the slice rate.
3.2.8 total sample area - the cumulative corrected area, from the initial area point to the final area point, where the chromatographic signal is considered to have returned to baseline after complete sample elution.
3.3 Abbreviations:
3.3.1 A common abbreviation of hydrocarbon compounds is to designate the number of carbon atoms in the compound. A prefix is used to indicate the carbon chain form, while a subscripted suffix denotes the number of carbon atoms (for example, normal decane = n-C10; isotetradecane = i-C14).
