IP 501: Determination of aluminium, silicon, vanadium, nickel, iron, sodium, calcium, zinc and phosphorous in residual fuel oil by ashing, fusion and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry

Overview:

Scope

This standard specifies a procedure for the determination of aluminium, silicon, vanadium nickel, iron, sodium, calcium, zinc and phosphorous in residual fuel oils at levels detailed in the table below, by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry.

Element          Range mg/kg
Aluminium       5 to 150
Silicon            10 to 250
Sodium           1 to 100
Vanadium        1 to 400
Nickel             1 to 100
Iron                 2 to 60
Calcium          3 to 100
Zinc                1 to 70
Phosphorus     1 to 60

Fuel oils with sulfur contents greater than 0,3 %m/m do not require an ashing aid. The precision data is based on fuel oils with sulfur contents greater than 0,3 % m/m.

Aluminium and silicon are normally found in association with each other in residual fuels, and may be specified, separately or in combination, as an estimate of catalyst fines content.