A S T M D2781 BA H 0759510 OOi7207 3

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued. --y

d[/b Designation: 2781

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- 88 AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS

1916 Race St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Copyright ASTM
If not listed in the current combined index, will appear in the next edition.
An American National Standard

Standard Test Method for

Compatibility of Fuel Oil Blends by Spot Test'
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 278 I: the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or. in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the lasf revision or reapproval.

1. Scope Reference Spot Sheet (D 278 1)

1.1 This test method covers two spot test procedures for
rating a residual fuel oil with respect to its compatibility with 3. Summary of Test Method
a specific distillate fuel oil. Procedure A indicates the degree 3.1 Procedure A-Equal volumes of the residual fuel oil
of asphaltene deposition that may be expected in blending and the distillate fuel oil are blended at 65°C(149°F).A drop
the components. This procedure is used when wax deposi- of the blend is allowed to spread on chromatographic paper
tion is not considered a fuel application problem. Procedure of a specified grade rated at 65°C (149°F).The spot thus
B indicates the degree of wax and asphaltene deposition in formed is compared with a series of numbered reference
the mixture at room temperature. This procedure is used spots. The compatibility of the components is rated on the
when wax deposition is considered a fuel application basis of this comparison.
problem. 3.2 Procedure B-This procedure is the same as Proce-
1.2 This test method is applied to a 50-50blend of the dure A except the spot is developed at a temperature of 20°C
component fuel oils where the viscosity of the blend is (68°F).
between approximately 15 and 45 cSt (1 cSt = 1 mm2/s) at
38°C(100°F).
4. Significance
- and Use
NOTE1-This blend approaches the most severe conditions for. 4.1 Two fuels, each of which is stable alone, when mixed
measuring compatibility and its viscosity is in the proper range for
satisfactory development of the spot under the conditions of the test.
together may make a fuel that is not stable. An unstable
blend will contain DreciDitated material that was soluble in
1.3 This test method is valid for predicting the compati- one of the component fiels. When the blend is unstable the
bility of the two components for blending into intermediate fuels are incompatible. The unstable fuel will cause deposits
marine diesel fuels. to be formed.
4.2 This test method is used as a pass/fail test method.
NOTE2-Com~onents that are comDafible in fhe 50-50 test blend
may not be 'compátible when manne diesel fuel is diluted with a higher
percentage of distillate fuel oil. 5. Descriptions of Terms Specific to This Standard
5.1 compatibility-the absence of suspended solids in fuel
1.4 This standard may involve hazardous materials, oper- oil blends under the conditions of the test.
ations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to 5.2 compatibility rating-the assigned numerical value of
address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the reference spot which most closely resembles the spot
the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish produced under the conditions of the test.
appropriate safety and health practices and determine the 5.3 distillate filel oil-a virgin, a cracked, or a blend of
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. virgin and cracked distillate, generally but not necessarily
1.5 The value stated in SI Units are to be regarded as the conforming to the requirements for Grade No. 2 Fuel Oil
standard. The values given in parentheses are for informa- given in Table 1 of Specification D 396.
tion only. 5.4 intermediate marine diesel fuels-blends of residual
fuel oil and distillate fuel oil, usually containing 5 to 50 %
distillate fuel oil.
2. Referenced Documents 5.5 residualfuel oil-Grade No. 6 Fuel Oil or any fuel oil
2.1 ASTM Standards: containing - residual components,
D 396 Specification for Fuel Oils2 NOTE3-When the residual fuel oil has a viscosity between 50 and
4057 for Of and 200 cSt at 50°C (12279, the resulting blend may be too low in viscosity
Petroleum Products3 for satisfactory application of the test.
2.2 ASTM Adjunct:
6. Interferences
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-2 on 6.1 Water in concentrations normally encountered does
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcom- not interfere,
mittee W2.05 on Properties of Fuels, Petroleum Coke, and Oil Shale.
Current edition approved June 13, 1988. Published August 1988. Onginally
published as D 2781 - 69 T. Last previous edition D 2781 - 82.
Annual Book ofASTM Standards, Vol 05.01. Reference spot sheefs are available at a nominal cost From ASTM Headquar-
Anniral Book ofASTM Standards, Vol 05.03. ten, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. Request Adjunct No. 12-427810-00.

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 A S T M D2781 88 0757510 0 0 2 7 2 0 8 5
4m D 2781
TABLE 1 Reference Spot Description paper in a horizontal position over a hot plate or in an oven
Reference
Characterizing Features
so that nothing touches it except near the edges. Remove the
Spot No. mixing jar from the bath, and shake the jar for 5 s. Remove
1 Homogeneous spot (no inner ring) the lid from the jar, insert the glass rod to the bottom of the
2 Faint or poorly defined inner ring jar, and stir the sample with the rod for approximately 5 s.
3 Well defined, thin, inner ring, only slightly darker than the background
4 Well defined inner ring, thicker than the ring in reference spot No. 3 Lift the rod from the jar, being careful not to touch the sides,
and somewhat darker than the background and allow thefirst drop of liquid to fall from the rod into the
5 Very dark solid or nearly solid area in the center. The central area is sample. Immediately move the rod to a vertical position with
much darker than the background.
the tip about 12 mm (0.5 in.) above the center of the test
paper, and allow the second drop to fall on the test paper.
6.2 Solids existent in the component fuels will contribute 9.6 Allow the spot to dry for 60 min at 65 f 3°C (149 f
to the deposit on the test paper. 5°F); then compare the test spot with the reference spots?
Using Table 1 as a guide, select the reference spot that most
7. Apparatus nearly matches the test spot. Ignore differences in overall
darkness, color, spot size, and appearance of the outer edges.
7.1 Water Bath, capable of maintaining a temperature of
65°C (149°F) and of such dimensions as to permit immersion Record the number assigned to the reference spot as the
of the mixing jar to within 38 mm (1.5 in.) of its top. Compatibility Rating.
7.2 Mixing Jar-A wide-mouth, 250 mL (8 oz) glass jar NOTE4-Use of an infrared lamp to keep the space warm may be
equipped with a sealing lid, and having etched lines corre- helpful for avoiding high melting wax crystals.
sponding to contained volumes of 50 and 100 mL. 10. Procedure B
7.3 Glass or PolyethyleneRod, 180 to 190 mm (7.0 to 7.5 10.1 To Permit Wax Deposition in Spot Formation-
in.) long and 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in.) in diameter. Proceed as directed in 9.1 through 9.3; then allow the jar and
7.4 Test Pape?-Chromatographic paper cut into 50-mm contents to stand undisturbed for 4 h at a temperature from
(2-in.) squares. Store the squares, without folding, rolling, or 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F). Continue as directed in 9.5 and 9.6,
bending, in a tightly closed container. spotting the sample at 20 to 25°C with the filter paper at 23.9
7.5 Thermometer-The type of thermometer is not crit- -c 3°C (75 f 5°F).
ical except that the range should include temperatures from
20 to 65°C (70 to 149°F). 11. Interpretation of Results
7.6 Hot Plate or Oven capable of heating to a temperature 1 1.1 A No. 1 rating indicates compatibility (no suspended
of 65°C (149°F). solids). For ratings above No. 1 the higher the numerical
value, the greater the departure from compatibility (in-
8. Sampling creasing amount of suspended solids), A No. 3 rating or
8.1 Separately collect the samples of the components as above indicates that a fuel oil blended from these compo-
directed in Practice D 4057. nents may cause problems in field application such as
excessive centrifuge loading, strainer plugging, and tank
9. Procedure A deposits.
9.1 To Eliminate Wax Deposition in Spot Formation- 11.2 If a No. 1 rating, for example, is obtained when the
With both fuel oil components at approximately the same blend is spotted as in Procedure A, and a No. 3 or higher
temperature, fill the mixing jar to the lower mark with the rating is obtained by spotting as in Procedure B, the poorer
distillate fuel oil; then add the residual fuel oil until the liquid rating may be attributed to crystallized wax and not to
level coincides with the upper mark. asphaltenes. If a spot rating greater than No. 1 is obtained in
9.2 Close the jar and shake it vigorously for approxi- both cases, the presence of insoluble asphaltenes or sediment
mately 10 s. Immerseit to within 40 mm (1.5 in.) ofits top in is indicated.
the bath at 65°C (149”F),weighting the jar, when necessary, 12. Report
to prevent it from floating.
12.I Report the Compatibility Rating as an integer from 1
9.3 After 15 to 20 min, remove the jar from the bath, and
shake it vigorously for at least 3 min. to 5. Indicate whether Procedure A or Procedure B was used.
9.4 Reheat the sample to 65°C (149°F) and spot immedi- 13. Precision and Bias
ately on test paper at room temperature as directed in 9.5. 13.1 Precision-It is not practicable to speci@ the preci-
9.5 Conduct the operations described in this paragraph in sion of the procedure in this test method because with this
duplicate in an area shielded from direct drafts. Remove a type of test data or results from other qualitative tests, no
test paper square from the storage container. Support the generally accepted method for determining precision is
currently available.
13.2 Bias-Since there is no accepted reference material
This method was onginally based on the use of Grade No. 2040a. available
from Carl Schleicher and Schuell Co., Keene, N. H.No. 2 Whatman or equivalent suitable for determining bias for this test method, no
filter paper is satisfactory. statement on bias is being made.

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