ASTM D7591-12 - 1.1.2012
 
Significance and Use

Petroleum-based diesel may be blended with biodiesel. High levels of free glycerin in biodiesel can cause injector deposits (gel effect), as well as clogging fuel systems. High levels of unreacted glycerides can cause injector deposits and can adversely affect cold weather operation and filter plugging.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers and describes an anion exchange chromatography procedure for determining free and total glycerin content of biodiesel (B100) and blends (B0 to B20) with diesel fuel oils defined by Specification D975 Grades 1-D, 2-D, and low sulfur 1-D and 2-D and Specification D6751 (for B100 feedstocks). It is intended for the analysis of biodiesel and blend samples containing between 0.5 to 50 mg/kg glycerin.

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D1193-24

Standard Specification for Reagent Water

E691-23

Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

D4057-22

Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products

D4177-22e1

Standard Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products (Includes all amendments and changes 3/24/2023).

D6299-26

Standard Practice for Applying Statistical Quality Assurance and Control Charting Techniques to Evaluate Analytical Measurement System Performance

D6751-24

Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blendstock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels

D6792-25

Standard Practice for Quality Management Systems in Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants Testing Laboratories

E177-26a

Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods (Includes all amendments and changes 5/14/2026).

D975-26b

Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel (Includes all amendments and changes 3/31/2026).