New ASTM method for heavy fuel oil stability

Buron H., Bru P.

Formulaction, 10 impasse Borde Basse, 31240 L’Union, France

A new method, developed by Octel Petroleum specialties and using the Turbiscan, offers an innovative tool for measuring stability of heavy fuel oil. This significant breakthrough could improve the efficiency of critical applications such as monitoring the benefit of additives for upgrading fuel oils or measuring the oil quality in general.

This method has recently been granted ASTM approval (ASTM D 7061-04). It involves dilution of the fuel oil in toluene and precipitation of the asphaltenes by heptane in order to simulate the ageing. The asphaltenes precipitation, which is critical for the fuel oil stability, is monitored by the Turbiscan in only 15 minutes through a vertical scanning of the sample every minute. The stability reserve of the fuel oil is directly linked to the phase separation of the asphaltenes detected by the Turbiscan and is measured quickly and easily. The effect of additives in the improvement of fuel oil stability can also be directly investigated using the same method.