BS EN ISO 20846:2019

What is ISO 20846 - Sulfur content of automotive fuels about? 

ISO 20846 is an international standard that serves method for the determination of sulfur content in automotive fuels which enables development of effectiveness of emission control systems and reduces air pollution. 

ISO 20846 specifies an ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence test method for the determination of the sulfur content of the following products: 

Having sulfur contents in the range 3 mg/kg to 500 mg/kg 

• Motor gasolines containing up to 3,7 % (m/m) oxygen [including those blended with ethanol upto about 10 % (V/V)] 
• Diesel fuels, including those containing up to about 30 % (V/V) fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), 

Having sulfur contents in the range of 3 mg/kg to 45 mg/kg 

• Synthetic fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and gas to liquid (GTL) 

Note 1: Some process catalysts used in petroleum and chemical refining can be poisoned when trace amounts of sulfur-bearing materials are contained in the feedstocks. 

Note 2: Test method can be used to determine sulfur in process feeds and can also be used to control sulfur in effluents. 

Note 3: For the purposes of this document, “% (m/m)” and “% (V/V)” are used to represent the mass fraction, w, and the volume fraction, φ, of a material respectively. 

Note 4: Sulfate species in ethanol do not have the same conversion factor of organic sulfur in ethanol. Nevertheless, sulfates have a conversion factor close to that of organic sulfur. 

Note 5: Nitrogen interference can occur, see 6.5 for further guidance. 

Who is ISO 20846 - Sulfur content of automotive fuels for? 

ISO 20846 on sulfur content of automotive fuels is applicable to: 

• Manufacturers of automotive fuels 
• Dealers and importers of automotive fuels 
• Testing labs for automotive fuels 

Why should you use ISO 20846 - Sulfur content of automotive fuels? 

Sulfur in gasoline reduces the efficiency of emission control devices and contributes to pollution in the atmosphere. Reduced sulphur content in gasoline allows for more effective emission controls and lowers pollution levels. Automobile manufacturers urge that sulfur-containing chemicals be removed from petroleum in order to lower overall vehicle emissions. 

ISO 20846 provides you guidance on principle, reagents, materials, apparatus, sampling, calibration, procedure, calculation, results and test report which enables you to determine the sulfur content in automotive fuels 

ISO 20846 provides you ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence test method for the determination of the sulfur content in automotive fuels. ISO 20846 also gives you a step-by-step procedure for the methods which ensures you do the method correctly. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS EN ISO 20846:2019 supersedes BS 2000‑490:2019, which is now withdrawn