ASTM D483-04 (2018) PDF

Full title and description

Standard Test Method for Unsulfonated Residue of Petroleum Plant Spray Oils — designation D483−04 (reapproved 2018). This method describes the determination of the unsulfonated residue (a measure of the degree of refinement) in petroleum plant spray oils by treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid under standardized conditions.

Abstract

ASTM D483-04(2018) specifies a chemical test to determine the portion of a petroleum plant spray oil that remains unsulfonated after treatment with 98.61% sulfuric acid at elevated temperature. The resulting unsulfonated-residue value is used to distinguish degrees of refinement of spray oils for agricultural spraying applications; the method is intended as a comparative measure rather than a full compositional analysis.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (withdrawn without superseding document — May 24, 2024).
• Publication date: Designation D483−04 (reapproved 2018); current edition approved Oct 1, 2018 (published 2018).
• Publisher: ASTM International (West Conshohocken, PA, USA).
• ICS / categories: 75.080 — Petroleum products in general.
• Edition / version: D483 − 04 (Reapproved 2018).
• Number of pages: 5 pages (typical publication length reported for the 2018 reapproval).

Scope

This test method covers the determination of unsulfonated residue in plant spray oils of petroleum origin and applies only to the petroleum oil content. It provides a measure of the degree of refinement by determining the extent to which the oil is attacked by 98.61% sulfuric acid under closely standardized conditions; it is not intended to quantify aromatics or olefins. The method is intended for quality control and specification of agricultural spray oils.

Key topics and requirements

• Test principle: treatment of a measured volume of oil with 98.61% sulfuric acid and measurement of the oil volume or mass remaining unsulfonated (unsulfonated residue).
• Test conditions: acid concentration 98.61%, temperature ≈ 100 °C, use of a Babcock bottle and controlled shaking (machine or standardized hand technique — 10 s shaking at 10 min intervals in cooperative programs).
• Apparatus: Babcock bottle, specified shaking machine or controlled manual technique, and centrifuge as described in the standard’s annex.
• Reagents: reagent-grade sulfuric acid (specified concentration) and other analytical-grade reagents; purity requirements described in the method.
• Calculations and reporting: unsulfonated residue reported as a percentage; method includes procedures for weighing, percent calculation, and precision/accuracy considerations.
• Limitations and use: provides a comparative indication of refinement, not a compositional breakdown (e.g., does not directly measure aromatics or olefins).

Typical use and users

Used by quality-control laboratories, producers and suppliers of agricultural spray oils, pesticide formulators, and regulatory/testing laboratories to verify refinement and suitability of petroleum-based spray oils for different spraying applications (leaf spray vs. dormant oil, etc.). Agricultural chemists, testing labs, and standards/specification writers commonly consult this method when specifying or testing spray oil quality.

Related standards

ASTM D483 references and is used alongside other ASTM practices and test methods for petroleum products and sampling, for example ASTM D4052 (density/API gravity by digital density meter), ASTM D4057 (manual sampling of petroleum and petroleum products), and ASTM D4177 (automatic sampling). For wider product characterization, users may also apply relevant ASTM methods for ash, viscosity, or sulfur where appropriate.

Keywords

unsulfonated residue, plant spray oils, petroleum spray oil, sulfuric acid method, Babcock bottle, oil refinement, agricultural spray oil testing, ASTM D483.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM D483-04(2018) is a test method that determines the unsulfonated residue of petroleum plant spray oils — a comparative measure of oil refinement obtained by treating the oil with concentrated sulfuric acid.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the procedure, apparatus, reagents and calculations for measuring the portion of a petroleum spray oil that remains unsulfonated after treatment with 98.61% sulfuric acid at approximately 100 °C; the result is reported as a percentage unsulfonated residue and used to distinguish degrees of refinement.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Producers and suppliers of agricultural spray oils, pesticide formulators, analytical laboratories performing product specification and quality control, and regulatory or inspection bodies concerned with spray-oil quality.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The method was reapproved in 2018 (designation D483−04 (2018)) but the document was withdrawn on May 24, 2024 (withdrawn without a direct superseding document). Users should check whether an alternative or replacement method is recommended for current practice.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the ASTM D series of standards for petroleum products and was developed under Committee D02 (subcommittee D02.06 on analysis of liquid fuels and lubricants); it is one of several ASTM methods used for characterizing petroleum-derived spray oils and related products.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Unsulfonated residue; petroleum plant spray oils; sulfuric acid method; oil refinement; Babcock bottle; agricultural spray oil testing; ASTM D483.