Overview
ISO 918:1983 - Volatile Organic Liquids for Industrial Use - Determination of Distillation Characteristics provides a standardized method for determining the distillation characteristics of volatile organic liquids. This international standard applies to industrial liquids with boiling points between 30 °C and 300 °C, excluding petroleum products, which remain stable during atmospheric distillation. The standard also specifies the distillation apparatus to be used in testing, ensuring reproducible and accurate results across laboratories.
By detailing the distillation process and apparatus requirements, ISO 918:1983 facilitates quality control, regulatory compliance, and consistency in the production and evaluation of various industrial organic liquids, enhancing both safety and product performance in diverse industrial sectors.
Key Topics
- Scope: Covers volatile organic liquids with boiling points ranging from 30 °C to 300 °C (excluding petroleum products).
- Principle: Outlines two main approaches for distillation determination:
- Measuring temperatures at specified condensate volumes (plotting temperature vs. volume).
- Measuring volumes at specified temperatures (plotting volume vs. temperature).
- Apparatus: Specifies laboratory equipment such as a borosilicate glass distillation flask, mercury-in-glass thermometer, graduated receiver, Liebig/West-type condenser, and associated draught screen and heat-resistant components.
- Sampling & Preparation: Guidance provided for sample storage and portion preparation, ensuring sample integrity.
- Procedures: Detailed procedures on conducting the distillation test, temperature adjustments, and correct rates of condensation.
- Corrections & Calculations: Instructions for correcting readings for barometric pressure, thermometer errors, and local gravity to ensure data standardization and accuracy.
- Reporting: Specifies the essential information required in the test report, including sample identification, conditions, and any observed anomalies.
Applications
ISO 918:1983 is widely applicable in industrial and laboratory settings where the accurate determination of boiling characteristics is essential for:
- Quality Assessment: Useful for manufacturers and process engineers to verify the distillation properties and composition of raw materials and finished products, ensuring they meet specifications.
- Regulatory Compliance: Supports adherence to safety and environmental regulations by providing reliable data on the volatility and boiling range of chemicals used in industry.
- Product Development: Assists formulation chemists and researchers in evaluating and comparing different organic liquids, solvents, and other materials during development stages.
- Supply Chain Management: Enables buyers and suppliers to agree on measurable quality parameters, reducing disputes related to product consistency and quality.
- Industrial Sectors: Beneficial for industries such as chemicals manufacturing, coatings, adhesives, specialty solvents, and cleaning agents, where the volatility and distillation profile of organic liquids affect process safety and product efficacy.
Related Standards
ISO 918:1983 is part of a series of standards for the determination of distillation characteristics. Related and complementary documents include:
- ISO 3405: Petroleum products - Determination of distillation characteristics. Applicable specifically to petroleum-based samples.
- ISO 4626: Volatile organic liquids - Determination of boiling range of organic solvents used as raw materials. Focuses on boiling range determination for industrial solvents.
- ISO 31/3 (now superseded by ISO 80000 series): Provides units and conversion factors relevant to pressure and temperature measurements in distillation tests.
Using ISO 918:1983 in conjunction with these related standards promotes robust and harmonized testing protocols for volatile organic liquids across different sectors and applications.
Keywords: ISO 918, distillation characteristics, volatile organic liquids, industrial use, laboratory standards, boiling range, test apparatus, quality control, organic solvents, international standards, ISO.