Low Sulfur and Other Trace Elements in Ethanol and Methanol Fuel Blends

As bio-gasoline fuels become more common, ethanol and methanol fuel and fuel blends are an increasingly popular fuel type. Ethanol fuels are renewable and low emissions, and methanol and ethanol fuel blends also share these benefits. Methanol and ethanol are alcohols, easily produced from renewable resources such as common crops.

Since methanol and ethanol fuels and fuel blends are required to meet certain compositional specifications, elemental analysis is required to show compliance. Specifications set forth by ASTM, as well as other organizations, regulate the amount of sulfur (S) and other trace elements in methanol and ethanol fuels. Ethanol and methanol fuels and fuel blends have to meet ASTM International specifications as described in the following ASTM documents:

• ASTM D5797-07, "Standard Specification for Fuel Methanol (M70-M85) for Automotive Spark Ignition Engines"
• ASTM D5798 10a, "Standard Specification for Fuel Ethanol (Ed75-Ed85) for Automotive Spark Ignition Engines"
• ASTM D4806-11, "Standard Specification for Denatured Fuel Ethanol for Blending with Gasolines for Use as Automotive Spark Ignition Engine Fuel"

Benchtop XRF Analyzers are an excellent tool to meet the challenge of monitoring the elemental concentration limits in Ethanol, Methanol, and their blends when they are used as spark emission engine fuel. Besides the analysis of sulfur (S) content, a Benchtop XRF Analyzer is capable of monitoring further elements including chlorine (Cl), phosphorus (P), and lead (Pb).

Low Sulfur and Trace Element Analysis in Methanol and Ethanol Fuels and their Blends with Benchtop XRF Analyzers

Testing for sulfur concentration and other trace element content in ethanol and methanol fuels and fuel blends is a must for all ethanol and methanol fuel manufacturers. A thorough applications report relating the accuracy, limits of detection, and ease-of-use of Benchtop XRF Analyzers is available.

Benchtop XRF Analyzers for the Analysis of Low Sulfur and Trace Elements in Methanol and Ethanol Fuels: Contact our sales team to discuss your needs. Click here.