ASTM D6159-23

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6159 − 23
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Hydrocarbon Impurities in Ethylene by Gas
1
Chromatography
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6159; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* D2504 Test Method for Noncondensable Gases in C and
2
Lighter Hydrocarbon Products by Gas Chromatography
1.1 This test method covers the determination of methane,
D2505 Test Method for Ethylene, Other Hydrocarbons, and
ethane, propane, propene, acetylene, iso-butane, propadiene,
Carbon Dioxide in High-Purity Ethylene by Gas Chroma-
butane, trans-2-butene, butene-1, isobutene, cis-2-butene,
tography
methyl acetylene and 1,3-butadiene in high-purity ethylene.
D5234 Guide for Analysis of Ethylene Product
The purity of the ethylene can be calculated by subtracting the
F307 Practice for Sampling Pressurized Gas for Gas Analy-
total percentage of all impurities from 100.00 %. Since this test
sis
method does not determine all possible impurities such as CO,
CO , H O, alcohols, nitrogen oxides, and carbonyl sulfide, as
2 2
3. Summary of Test Method
well as hydrocarbons higher than decane, additional tests may
be necessary to fully characterize the ethylene sample.
3.1 A gaseous ethylene sample is analyzed as received. The
1.2 Data are reported in this test method as ppmV (parts per
gaseous sample is injected into a capillary gas chromatograph.
million by gaseous volume) and ppmMol (parts per million
Sample may be introduced by direct valve injection or by split
Mol). This test method was evaluated in an interlaboratory
valve injection. The gas chromatograph is provided with a
cooperative study in the concentration range of 4 ppmV to
6-port sampling valve and two wide bore capillary columns
340 ppmV (2 mg ⁄kg to 204 mg ⁄kg). The participants in the
connected in series. These columns are a dimethyl polysi-
interlaboratory cooperative study reported the data in non-SI
loxane column and a porous layer open tubular column (PLOT)
units. Wherever possible, SI units are included.
Al O /KCl column. (See Note 1.) A flame ionization detector is
2 3
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the used for detection. The integrated detector signal (peak areas)
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the are corrected for detector response. The hydrocarbon impuri-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ties are determined and the total impurities are used to
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
determine the ethylene content.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
NOTE 1—This column is supplied by major column manufacturers.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4. Significance and Use
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
4.1 High-purity ethylene is required as a feedstock for some
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
manufacturing processes and the presence of trace amounts of
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
certain hydrocarbon impurities can have deleterious effects.
This test method is suitable for setting specifications, for use as
2. Referenced Documents
an internal quality control tool, and for use in development or
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
research work.
4.2 This test method does not detect such impurities as H O,
2
1
CO, CO , and alcohols that may be present in the sample.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
2
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
Hydrocarbons higher than n-decane cannot be analyzed by this
Subcommittee D02.D0.02 on Ethylene.
test method, if present in the sample. Test Method D2504
Current edition approved May 1, 2023. Published June 2023. Originally
addresses the analysis of noncondensable gases and Test
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as D6159 – 17. DOI:
10.1520/D6159-23.
Method D2505 addresses the analysis of CO . Guide D5234
2
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
describes all potential impurities present in ethylene. These
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
standards should be consulted when determining the total
Standards volume information, refer t
...