Full Test Pack
Full Pack for Fuel/Oils Analysis
- HFO (Fuel oil)
- Diesel fuel (Road/Agricultural; Marine: MGO, MDO)
- Petrol/Gasoline
- Oils (lubricants; hydraulic)
Density at 15ºC – Portable densimeter 🡄
ASTM D7777
Description: allows determining the density of a sample of fuel at 15ºC using a portable digital density meter.
Advantages: Test accredited by IPAC (ISO 17025 accreditation). Results with high precision (to the nearest 1 kg/m3).
Sulphur content by dispersive energy - X-ray fluorescence spectrometry 🡄
ASTM D4294
Description: allows sulphur determination in a fuel, using a portable equipment. A portion of the sample is placed inside the equipment, which emits an X-ray beam originated from a sealed radioactive source, and the amount of sulphur content is automatically calculated by the device.
Advantages: a clean and fast test requires only a small amount of test sample. Test accredited by IPAC (ISO 17025 accreditation). High operability range: 0,01 to 5,00 %(w/w).
Monitoring the presence of metals and elements - X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
Internal Test Method
Description: this test method can monitor the presence of wear metals (for example V, Ni, Na, Ca), present in samples of petroleum products by the X-ray Fluorescence (FRX) technique. A portion of the sample is placed inside the equipment, which emits an x-ray beam originated from a sealed radioactive source, and the amount of sulphur content is automatically calculated by the device and expressed in mg/kg.
Advantages: allows quick monitoring of the presence of metals and elements in the sample. To the end-user, it will allow greater control over the product’s characteristics to identify equipment degradation and reducing maintenance costs.
Water content by Distillation 🡄
ASTM D95
Description: allows the determination of water content between 0 and 25 %(V/w) by distillation of heavy petroleum products and other bituminous material.
Advantages: a classic method, easy to execute allows to accurately quantifying the amount of water present in a sample. Test accredited by IPAC (ISO 17025 accreditation).
Ash Content 🡄
ISO 6245
Description: ash content consists of the inorganic residue (Va, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Pb, Fe, Ni) that remains after combustion of a sample in the presence of air at high temperature. These residues can occur naturally or can result from refining, or contamination during the stages of storage or distribution. This test consists of burning a small amount of sample in a controlled atmosphere, which will result in a quantifiable residue.
Advantages: a gravimetric method estimates the tendency of the material to form sediments. Test accredited by IPAC (ISO 17025 accreditation).
Kinematic viscosity at 50ºC and 100ºC
Internal Test Method
Description: viscosity corresponds to a physical property that characterizes the resistance of a given fluid to flow, as well as shear deformation. This property varies with temperature. During the test the flow of the fluid is measured, as a function of time.
Advantages: it is a simple and effective method for products with higher viscosity. It allows the determination of the kinematic viscosity at a defined temperature.
Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester
ASTM D93
Description: during the test, a sample is subjected to progressive heating, being regularly exposed to a flame. The flash point will correspond to the lowest temperature at which the sample releases enough steam to form a flammable mixture. The measurement is made using Pensky-Martens closed cup tester.
Advantages: it allows to evaluate the applicability range (combustion) of the fuel and to evaluate its danger.
Total sediment by hot filtration
ISO 10307 – Part 1
Description: method to determine total sediment in residual fuel with a maximum viscosity of 55 mm2/s at 100ºC. This test determines, by gravimetric method, after vacuum filtration, the content of insoluble organic material or inorganic material up to a range of 0,50 %(w/w) for residual fuel.
Advantages: it allows to rigorously evaluate the contamination of a sample with insoluble inorganic and organic material.
Corrosiveness to Copper - Copper Strip Test
ASTM D130
Description: determines the degree of corrosiveness to copper of petroleum products.
Advantages: it allows, through an accelerated aging process (oxidation-reduction reaction), to check if the fuel causes damage to equipment or materials.
Cleanliness and Compatibility (Spot Test)
ASTM D4740
Description: analysis of the degree of compatibility between a fuel oil sample and a reference blend stock sample.
Advantages: it allows in 2 quick procedures to determine the presence of suspended solids and the degree of compatibility of the sample if combined with mixtures containing residual fuel distillates.
Asphaltene Content (Reference Spot Test)
Internal Test Method
Description: asphaltenes are heavier aromatic compounds of petroleum that have a higher boiling point. These compounds can cause serious problems during petroleum production, which include formation of organic deposits in the reservoirs and flow lines and stabilization of emulations.
Advantages: easy and quick method to quantify the content of these compounds.
Catalytic Fines (Aluminium + Silicon) - Qualitative centrifuge test
Internal Test Method
Description: catalytic fines are responsible for many of the wear problems that occur in engines. They are tiny particles of contaminants that are created by the catalytic cracking process. They are formed by aluminium and silicon, which are used as catalysts in the refining processes, some of which are transported to the final product.
Advantages: a quick monitoring of these compounds can provide information about the wear of the equipment and to allow an evaluation regarding maintenance to prolong its use.
Calculated Carbon Aromaticity Index (CCAI)
ISO 8217
Description: CCAI is determined based on the knowledge of some fuel properties (tested density and kinematic viscosity).
Advantages: it avoids the use of fuels with uncharacteristic viscosity and density relationships. Provides information about the ignition quality of the fuel.
Net Specific Energy and Gross Specific Energy
ISO 8217
Description: specific energy corresponds to the amount of heat per unit of mass (or volume, in the case of gases) released during the combustion of a given fuel. The higher value, the greater the energy contained in the fuel.
Advantages: to determine the combustion power of fuel and its applicability.
Water and Particulate Contamination - Visual Inspection Procedures
ASTM D4176
Description: visual test to evaluate the presence of free suspended water and contamination by solid particles in distilled fuels.
Advantages: Two test methods are used to determine the contamination of a sample. It is a rapid test to assess the presence or absence of water and particulate matter.
Density at 15ºC – Portable densimeter
ASTM D7777
Description: to determine the density of a sample of fuel at 15ºC using a portable digital density meter.
Advantages: Results with high precision (to the nearest 1 kg/m3).
Sulphur content by dispersive energy - X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
ASTM D4294
Description: allows sulphur determination in a fuel, using a portable equipment. A portion of the sample is placed inside the equipment, which emits an X-ray beam originated from a sealed radioactive source, and the amount of sulphur content is automatically calculated by the device.
Advantages: a clean and fast test requires only a small amount of test sample. High operability range: 0,01 to 5,00 %(w/w).
Monitoring the presence of metals and elements - X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
Internal Test Method
Description: this test method can monitor the presence of wear metals (for example V, Ni, Na, Ca), present in samples of petroleum products by the X-ray Fluorescence (FRX) technique. A portion of the sample is placed inside the equipment, which emits an X-ray beam originated from a sealed radioactive source, and the amount of sulphur content is automatically calculated by the device.
Advantages: allows quick monitoring of the presence of metals and elements in the sample. To the end-user, it will allow greater control over the product’s characteristics to identify equipment degradation and reducing maintenance costs.
Water content by coulometric Karl-Fischer titration method
ISO 12937
Description: Specifies a method for the direct determination of water in petroleum products boiling below 390 °C. It covers the mass fraction range 0,003 % (m/m) to 0,100%(m/m).
Advantages: rapid method that allows the quantitative determination of water content of a sample.
Ash content
ISO 6245
Description: ash content consists of the inorganic residue (Va, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Pb, Fe, Ni) that remains after combustion of a sample in the presence of air at high temperature. These residues can occur naturally or can result from refining, or contamination during the stages of storage or distribution. This test consists of burning a small amount of sample in a controlled atmosphere, which will result in a quantifiable residue.
Advantages: it’s a gravimetric method that estimates the tendency of the material to form sediments.
Kinematic viscosity at 40ºC - Cannon-Fenske viscometers
ASTM D445 / ISO 3104
Description: viscosity corresponds to a physical property that characterizes the resistance of a given fluid to flow, as well as shear deformation. This property varies with temperature. During the test, a Cannon-Fenske viscometer is charged with a sample and is put in a thermostatic oil bath at 40ºC. As the sample flows through the Cannon-Fenske viscometer, the time is measured in order to calculate the kinematic viscosity.
Advantages: it is a test that determines the kinematic viscosity at a defined and stable temperature. The test uses international standards (ISO or ASTM) that allow the determination of values within a range of 5 to 700 mm2/s (cSt).
Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester
ASTM D93
Description: during the test, a sample is subjected to progressive heating, being regularly exposed to a flame. The flash point will correspond to the lowest temperature at which the sample releases enough steam to form a flammable mixture. The measurement is made using a Pensky-Martens closed cup tester.
Advantages: it allows to evaluate the applicability range (combustion) of the fuel and to evaluate its danger.
Corrosiveness to Copper - Copper Strip Test
ASTM D130
Description: determines the degree of corrosiveness to copper of petroleum products.
Advantages: it allows, through an accelerated aging process (oxidation-reduction reaction), to check if the fuel causes damage to equipment or materials.
Total Contamination
EN 12662
Description: method of quantitative determination of insoluble substances in diesel up to 30 %(V/V). A certain amount of sample is vacuum filtered through a membrane and the resulting deposit is weighed.
Advantages: it allows to evaluate the contamination of a diesel sample with insoluble substances that can, when too much, plug the fuel system filters and other small orifice components.
Net Specific Energy and Gross Specific Energy
ISO 8217
Description: specific energy corresponds to the amount of heat per unit of mass (or volume, in the case of gases) released during the combustion of a given fuel. The higher value, the greater the energy contained in the fuel.
Advantages: it allows determining the combustion power of fuel and its applicability.
Water and Particulate Contamination and Colour - Visual Inspection Procedures
ASTM D4176
Description: visual test to evaluate the presence of free suspended water and contamination by solid particles in distilled fuels and to evaluate the colour of the sample.
Advantages: two test methods are used to determine the contamination of a sample. It is a rapid test to assess the presence or absence of water and particulate matter. In addition, it is a fast method for evaluating the indicative colour of the octane index.
Density at 15ºC – Portable densimeter
ASTM D7777
Description: to determine the density of a sample of fuel at 15ºC using a portable digital density meter.
Advantages: Results with high precision (to the nearest 1 kg/m3).
Sulphur content by energy dispersive - X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
ASTM D4294
Description: allows sulphur determination in a fuel, using a portable equipment. A portion of the sample is placed inside the equipment, which emits an X-ray beam originated from a sealed radioactive source, and the amount of sulphur content is automatically calculated by the device.
Advantages: a clean and fast test requires only a small amount of test sample. High operability range: 0,01 to 5,00 %(w/w).
Monitoring the presence of metals and elements - X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
Internal Test Method
Description: this test method can monitor the presence of wear metals (for example V, Ni, Na, Ca), present in samples of petroleum products by the X-ray Fluorescence (FRX) technique. A portion of the sample is placed inside the equipment, which emits an X-ray beam originated from a sealed radioactive source, and the amount of sulphur content is automatically calculated by the device.
Advantages: allows quick monitoring of the presence of metals and elements in the sample. To the end-user, it will allow greater control over the product’s characteristics to identify equipment degradation and reducing maintenance costs.
Water content by coulometric Karl Fischer titration method
ISO 12937
Description: Specifies a method for the direct determination of water in petroleum products boiling below 390 °C. It covers the mass fraction range 0,003 % (m/m) to 0,100%(m/m).
Advantages: rapid method that allows the quantitative determination of water content of a sample.
Corrosiveness to Copper - Copper Strip Test
ASTM D130
Description: determines the degree of corrosiveness to copper of petroleum products containing a vapour pressure not exceeding 124 kPa (18 psi) at 37,8ºC.
Advantages: it allows, through an accelerated aging process (oxidation-reduction reaction), to check if the fuel causes damage to equipment or materials.
Level of contamination by solid particles – Automatic particle counter
ISO 4406
Description: this method uses an automatic particle counter that allows to evaluate the contamination by particles in a given oil sample, in other words, it allows to determine how many particles are present and to distribute these over different ranges according to the test standard.
Advantages: The volumetric sensor cell and optical components of the measuring equipment are sophisticated and guarantee high resolution and accuracy. Every particle that passes through the sensor is detected.
Density at 15ºC – Portable densimeter
ASTM D7777
Description: to determine the density of a sample of oil at 15ºC using a portable digital density meter.
Advantages: Results with high precision (to the nearest 1 kg/m3).
Monitoring the presence of metals and elements - X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
Internal Test Method
Description: this test method can monitor the presence of wear metals (for example V, Ni, Na, Ca), present in samples of petroleum products by the X-ray Fluorescence (FRX) technique. A portion of the sample is placed inside the equipment, which emits an X-ray beam originated from a sealed radioactive source, and the amount of sulphur content is automatically calculated by the device.
Advantages: allows a quick monitoring of the presence of metals and elements in the sample. To the end-user, it will allow greater control over the product’s characteristics to identify equipment degradation and reducing maintenance costs.
Water content by coulometric Karl Fischer titration method
ASTM D6304
Description:Specifies a method for the direct determination of water in lubricating oils. It can determine in a range between 10 to 25 000 mg/kg.
Advantages: rapid method that allows the quantitative determination of water content of a sample.
Sulphated ash content
ASTM D874
Description: The method of determining the content of sulphated ash is a quantitative measure used to indicate the concentration of metal-containing additives (mainly Sn, Na, K, Zn, Mg, Ca and Ba) that form the ashes in lubricating oils. It consists of a procedure to determine the amount of residue that remains after burning a sample, in the presence of sulphuric acid.
Advantages: it’s a gravimetric method that estimates the tendency of the material to form sediments.
Kinematic viscosity at 40ºC - Cannon-Fenske viscometers
ASTM D445/ISO 3104
Description: viscosity corresponds to a physical property that characterizes the resistance of a given fluid to flow, as well as shear deformation. This property varies with temperature. During the test, a Cannon-Fenske viscometer is charged with a sample and is put in a thermostatic oil bath at 40ºC. As the sample flows through the Cannon-Fenske viscometer, the time is measured to calculate the kinematic viscosity.
Advantages: a test that determines the kinematic viscosity at a defined and stable temperature. The test uses international standards (ISO or ASTM) that allow the determination of values within a range of 5 to 700 mm2/s (cSt).
Flash Point by Cleveland Method (Open Cup)
ASTM D92
Description:during the test, a sample is subjected to progressive heating, being regularly exposed to a flame. The flash point will correspond to the lowest temperature at which the sample releases enough steam to form a flammable mixture.
Advantages: it allows to evaluate the applicability range (combustion) of the fuel and to evaluate its danger.
Acid and Base Number by Colour-Indicator Titration (TAN/TBN)
ASTM D974
Description: determination of acidic or basic constituents in fuels and oils, such as additives or degradation products (e.g. oxidation products). These compounds can be determined by titration as acids or bases. It is applicable for the determination of acids or bases whose dissociation constants in water are greater than 10-9.
Advantages: easy method for determining the level of acidity/ basicity of fuel, with few resources required.