ASTM D5291-21 PDF

Full title and description

Standard Test Methods for Instrumental Determination of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen in Petroleum Products and Lubricants — designation ASTM D5291-21. This standard specifies instrumental procedures for the simultaneous determination of total carbon, total hydrogen and total nitrogen in laboratory samples of petroleum products and lubricants, reporting results as mass percent (CHN analysis).

Designation and edition: ASTM D5291-21. DOI: 10.1520/D5291-21.

Abstract

ASTM D5291-21 defines one-operator or automated instrumental combustion methods that convert sample material to carbon dioxide, water vapor, and elemental nitrogen and then quantitatively determine these species to report total carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. The procedure is intended for a range of petroleum-derived matrices (crude oils, fuel oils, additives, residues and many lubricants) and specifies concentration ranges and applicability limits (for example, limitations for light/volatile materials and low-nitrogen samples).

General information

• Status: Active (current edition D5291-21).
• Publication date: 2021 (current edition approved and published in late 2021 — D5291-21).
• Publisher: ASTM International.
• ICS / categories: 75.080 (Petroleum products in general); 75.100 (Lubricants, industrial oils and related products).
• Edition / version: D5291-21 (2021).
• Number of pages: 8 pages.

Scope

These test methods cover the instrumental determination of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen in laboratory samples of petroleum products and lubricants and report total carbon, total hydrogen and total nitrogen as mass percent. They are applicable to samples such as crude oils, fuel oils, additives and residues; the methods were validated over typical petroleum concentration ranges (for example, carbon ~75–87 % by mass, hydrogen ~9–16 % by mass, and nitrogen from <0.1 % up to ~2 % by mass in tested materials). The nitrogen determination has limited applicability for light materials or samples containing less than about 0.75 % nitrogen and the methods are not recommended for volatile materials such as gasoline and similar highly volatile fuel blends. SI units are specified as the standard units.

Key topics and requirements

• Simultaneous instrumental determination of total carbon, hydrogen and total nitrogen in a single procedure (CHN analysis).
• Combustion/conversion of sample to CO2, H2O and elemental nitrogen followed by quantitative detection and calibration.
• Applicable sample types: crude oils, fuel oils, additives, residues, many lubricants; not recommended for highly volatile materials like gasoline.
• Performance and concentration ranges stated in the standard (example ranges for which the method was tested are given).
• Instrument-specific operational and calibration practices are required; users must follow laboratory quality assurance and safety practices.

Typical use and users

Used by analytical laboratories, refinery and lubricant manufacturers, quality control and R&D groups, and instrument vendors for routine CHN characterization and specification testing of petroleum streams and lubricant materials. Typical applications include material characterization, process control, additive content estimation (via nitrogen), and basic compositional checks supporting refining and formulation decisions.

Related standards

ASTM D5291 is produced under Committee D02 (Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants) and references other ASTM practices and standards such as D4057 (manual sampling), D4175 (terminology), D4177 (automatic sampling), and D6299 (statistical quality assurance and control charting techniques). Related elemental analysis standards (other CHN/combustion methods) and international equivalents may also be used alongside D5291 where appropriate.

Keywords

ASTM D5291-21; CHN analysis; carbon determination; hydrogen determination; nitrogen determination; petroleum products; lubricants; combustion analysis; total nitrogen; mass percent; elemental analysis.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM D5291-21 is the 2021 edition of the ASTM test methods for instrumental determination of total carbon, total hydrogen and total nitrogen in laboratory samples of petroleum products and lubricants.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers instrumental combustion-based techniques that convert the sample to CO2, H2O and elemental nitrogen, and the quantitative determination of those species to report CHN as mass percent. It includes applicability limits and concentration ranges and specifies SI units.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Analytical laboratories, refinery QC/R&D groups, lubricant formulators, and instrument manufacturers or service labs performing routine CHN characterization on petroleum streams and lubricant samples.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The D5291-21 edition (2021) is the current published edition of ASTM D5291. Users should verify at purchase or via ASTM to confirm no subsequent amendments or reapprovals after 2021.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is maintained by ASTM Committee D02 (Subcommittee D02.03 on Elemental Analysis) and is one of several ASTM methods related to elemental and compositional analysis of petroleum and lubricant materials; it cross-references other D02 documents and related CHN/elemental standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: CHN, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, petroleum products, lubricants, elemental analysis, combustion, total nitrogen, mass percent.