ASTM D7920-15 - 1.8.2015
 
Significance and Use

5.1 Methanol is used in blends with gasoline at levels of 70 % to 85 % by volume, as specified in Specification D5797. This test method provides a quantitative approach to measure the methanol content in methanol fuel blends, from 10 % to 99 % by volume. The usual concentration is 70 % to 85 % by volume (M70 to M85). The method is also used to analyze fuel methanol (M99) prior to blending.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the methanol content, by gas chromatography, of M10 to M99 in methanol fuel blends, including fuel methanol (M99).

1.1.1 Methanol may be determined from 10 % to 99 % by volume.

1.2 This test method is designed to measure not only methanol in the blended gasoline but also the impurities in fuel methanol (M99) itself in the range of 5 mg/kg to 1000 mg/kg. However, not all impurities are measured nor detected by this test method.

1.2.1 Water cannot be determined by this test method and shall be measured by a procedure such as Test Method D1364 and the result used to correct the concentrations determined by this test method.

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

1.4 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

E594-96(2026)

Standard Practice for Testing Flame Ionization Detectors Used in Gas or Supercritical Fluid Chromatography

D6299-26

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

D4307-17(2021)

Standard Practice for Preparation of Liquid Blends for Use as Analytical Standards

D4175-24e1

Standard Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants (Includes all amendments and changes 11/19/2024).

E355-96(2021)e1

Standard Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Relationships (Includes all amendments and changes 4/28/2021).

D4814-25a

Standard Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel (Includes all amendments and changes 12/24/2025).

D5797-21

Standard Specification for Methanol Fuel Blends (M51–M85) for Methanol-Capable Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines

D4057-22

Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products

D1364-22

Standard Test Method for Water in Volatile Solvents (Karl Fischer Reagent Titration Method)

E29-22

Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications

E1064-24

Standard Test Method for Water in Organic Liquids by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration

E1510-95(2021)

Standard Practice for Installing Fused Silica Open Tubular Capillary Columns in Gas Chromatographs

D4626-23

Standard Practice for Calculation of Gas Chromatographic Response Factors