BS EN 1601:2017

What is BS EN 1601 - Determination of organic oxygenate compounds and total organically bound oxygen content in unleaded petrol- Method by gas chromatography (O-FID) about?  

BS EN 1601 specifies a gas chromatographic method for the quantitative determination, in unleaded petrol having a final boiling point not greater than 220 °C, of individual organic oxygenate compounds in the range 0,17 % (m/m) to 15 % (m/m) in a direct analysis (without dilution), and total organically bound oxygen up to 3,9 % (m/m).  

For samples for which one of the oxygenate compounds content is higher than 15 % (m/m), a procedure with a dilution of the sample before the analysis is given.  

The scope of the test method specified in BS EN 1601 includes petrol with higher total oxygen content and with higher oxygenate contents than mentioned in the former edition. The test method is now applicable for petrol (automotive motor gasoline) with a total oxygen content up to 3,9 % (m/m), and/or with an individual oxygenate compound content higher than 15 % (m/m). Such petrol is specified in EN 228 [1].  

Note1: The conversion from percent mass to percent volume is done using the calculation mentioned in 8.3 and 9.5.3.  

Note 2: Precision data are not available for an oxygenate compound content higher than 15 % (m/m); see Introduction.  

Who is BS EN 1601 - Determination of organic oxygenate compounds and total organically bound oxygen content in unleaded petrol- Method by gas chromatography (O-FID) for? 

BS EN 1601 on Determination of organic oxygenate compounds and total organically bound oxygen content in unleaded petrol- Method by gas chromatography (O-FID) is useful for: 

• Petroleum and natural gas industry   
• Testing houses and laboratories   
• Research institutes   

Why should you use BS EN 1601 - Determination of organic oxygenate compounds and total organically bound oxygen content in unleaded petrol- Method by gas chromatography (O-FID)? 

After separation using a capillary column, the organic oxygenate compounds are selectively converted to carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon in a pyrolytic cracking reactor. In a hydrogenation reactor, carbon monoxide is then converted to methane and subsequently detected using a flame ionization detector (FID). 

BS EN 1601 provides guidance on the oxygen selective detection (O-FID) technique. 

Compliance with BS EN 1601 helps you ensure the precision, accuracy, and safety in determining the organic oxygenate compounds and total organically bound oxygen content in unleaded petrol. 

What’s changed since the last update?  

BS EN 1601:2017 supersedes EN 1601:2014. BS EN 1601:2017 includes some technical and editorial changes with respect to EN 1601:2014. These include: 

• Improved description of the carrier gases, equipment and procedure for cooling the samples 
• Expansion of Table 1 on the oxygenate compounds data, a.o. the addition of ETBE and TAEE  
• Editorial changes in order to clarify the test procedure