BS EN ISO 3405:2019

What is ISO 3405 - Determination of distillation characteristics about?  

ISO 3405 specifies a laboratory method for the determination of the distillation characteristics of light and middle distillates derived from petroleum and related products of synthetic or biological origin with initial boiling points above 0 °C and end-points below approximately 400 °C, utilizing either manual or automated equipment. Light distillates are typically automotive engine petrol, automotive engine ethanol fuel blends with up to 85 % (V/V) ethanol, and aviation petrol. Middle distillates are typically aviation turbine fuel, kerosene, diesel, diesel with up to 30 % (V/V) FAME, burner fuel, and marine fuels that have no appreciable quantities of residual. 

The distillation (volatility) characteristics of hydrocarbons and related products of synthetic or biological origin have an important effect on their safety and performance, especially in the case of fuels and solvents. The boiling range gives valuable information on composition and behaviour during storage and use, and the rate of evaporation is a key factor in the application of many solvents. Limiting values to specified distillation characteristics are applied to most distillate petroleum products and liquid fuel specifications to control end-user performance and to regulate the formation of vapours which may form explosive mixtures with air, or otherwise escape into the atmosphere as emissions (VOC). 

NOTE: For the purposes of ISO 3405, the term “% (V/V)” is used to represent the volume fraction of material. 

Who is ISO 3405 - Determination of distillation characteristics for? 

ISO 3405 on the determination of distillation characteristics is relevant to: 

• Testing authorities 
• Chemical engineers 
• Manufacturers and suppliers of distillation flasks 
• Scientists  
• People who work on distillation curve 

Why should you use ISO 3405 - Determination of distillation characteristics?  

Distillation is the most widely used separation technique in the petroleum industry. ISO 3405 assists the user in the determination of distillation characteristics at atmospheric pressure. The test sample is assigned into one of four groups based on its composition and expected volatility characteristics, each group defining the apparatus arrangement, condenser temperature, and operational variables. The precision as determined by statistical examination of interlaboratory test results on matrices of petrol, kerosene, and gas oils by manual procedures and factors and/or precision is indicated in ISO 3405. 

Overall, ISO 3405 is helpful as it provides guidance on many specifications for petrol, kerosene, and gas oil require specific percentages evaporated or recovered, either as maxima, minima, or ranges, at specified temperature readings.  

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS EN ISO 3405:2019 supersedes ISO 3405:2011, which is withdrawn BS EN ISO 3405:2019 includes some technical changes with respect to ISO 3405:2011. These include: 

• Extension of the scope to include synthetic and biological products in general and automotive petrol-ethanol blends and to diesel with up to 30 % (V/V) FAME specifically 
• The procedure has been aligned with ASTM D86[1] and ASTM International has granted usage of its precision data on 5 July 2017 
• Update of the precision (for automated apparatus) for groups 1, 2, and 3, with the slope-based precision obtained from a 2010 Interlaboratory Study [2] 
• For T95, group 4 now has a valid range of 260 °C to 360 °C and an updated precision, as a review of a 2006 Interlaboratory Study revealed the absence of some group 4 samples having a final boiling point near 360 °C, as well final boiling points above 
• The test report example in Annex F has been updated as group 0 is not addressed since the fourth edition of the series ISO 3405