ASTM | Determining the Presence of Metal in Fuels

A new ASTM International standard will be used to test for specific metals in crude oils. ASTM’s petroleum products, liquid fuels, and lubricants committee (D02) developed the new standard. 

The new standard (soon to be published as D8322) describes a test method using microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AES) to determine the presence of nickel, vanadium, iron, and other elements in crude oil and other heavy fuels.  

“These metals are normally contained in crude oil, but may contribute to downstream refinery processing issues,” says ASTM International member George Gonzalez. “The standard will be specifically useful for 700 global refineries and contract laboratories that will use it to test crude oil samples on a daily basis.” 

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