ASTM D5580-21

5.1?Regulations limiting the concentration of benzene and the total aromatic content of finished gasoline have been established for 1995 and beyond in order to reduce the ozone reactivity and toxicity of automotive evaporative and exhaust emissions. Test methods to determine benzene and the aromatic content of gasoline are necessary to assess product quality and to meet new fuel regulations.

5.2?This test method can be used for gasolines that contain oxygenates (alcohols and ethers) as additives. It has been determined that the common oxygenates found in finished gasoline do not interfere with the analysis of benzene and other aromatics by this test method.

1.1?This test method covers the determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, the xylenes, C₉ and heavier aromatics, and total aromatics in finished motor gasoline by gas chromatography.

1.2?The aromatic hydrocarbons are separated without interferences from other hydrocarbons in finished gasoline. Nonaromatic hydrocarbons having a boiling point greater than n-dodecane may cause interferences with the determination of the C₉ and heavier aromatics. For the C_{1.3?This test method covers the following concentration ranges, in liquid volume %, for the preceding aromatics: benzene, 0.1 % to 5 %; toluene, 1 % to 15 %; individual C8 aromatics, 0.5 % to 10 %; total C1.4?Results are reported to the nearest 0.01 % by either mass or by liquid volume.}

1.5?This test method includes a relative bias section for U.S. EPA spark-ignition engine fuel regulations reporting for benzene based on Practice D6708 accuracy assessment between Test Method D5580 and Test Method D3606 as a possible Test Method D5580 alternative to Test Method D3606. The Practice D6708 derived correlation equation is only applicable for fuels in the benzene concentration range from 0.0 % to 2.31 % by volume as measured by Test Method D5580. The applicable Test Method D3606 range for benzene is from 0.0 % to 2.38 % by volume as reported by Test Method D3606.

1.6?This test method includes a relative bias section for U.S. EPA spark-ignition engine fuel regulations for total aromatics reporting based on Practice D6708 accuracy assessment between Test Method D5580 and Test Method D5769 as a possible Test Method D5580 alternative to Test Method D5769. The Practice D6708 derived correlation equation(s) is only applicable for fuels in the total aromatic concentration range from 5.4 % to 31.6 % by volume as measured by Test Method D5580 and a distillation temperature T₉₅, at which 95 % of the sample has evaporated, as measured by Test Method D86 is in the range of 149.1 ?C to 196.6 ?C (300.4 ?F to 385.9 ?F).