An American National Standard

Designation: D 4740 – 04

Standard Test Method for

Cleanliness and Compatibility of Residual Fuels by Spot
Test1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4740; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* 3.1.3 compatibility, n—of residual fuel, the absence of

1.1 This test method covers separate procedures for deter- suspended solids when equal volumes of a sample and a blend
mining the cleanliness of residual fuel oil and the compatibility stock are mixed together.
of a residual fuel oil with a blend stock. It is applicable to 4. Summary of Test Method
residual fuel oils with viscosities up to 50 cSt (1 cSt = 1 mm2s)
at 100°C. 4.1 Cleanliness Procedure—A drop of the preheated and
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the thoroughly mixed sample is put on a test paper and placed in
standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for an oven at 100°C. After 1 h, the test paper is removed from the
information only. oven and the resultant spot is examined for evidence of
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the suspended solids and rated for cleanliness using the D 4740
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the Adjunct Reference Spots.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.2 Compatibility Procedure—A blend composed of equal
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- volumes of the sample fuel oil and the blend stock is tested in
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. the same way as described in 4.1 and rated for compatibility
against D 4740 Adjunct Reference Spots.
2. Referenced Documents
5. Significance and Use
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2
D 4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and 5.1 The two procedures in this test method are used alone or
Petroleum Products in combination to identify fuels or blends that could result in
D 4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and excessive centrifuge loading, strainer plugging, tank sludge
Petroleum Products formation, or similar operating problems.
E 1 Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers 5.2 A spot rating of Number 3 or higher on a finished fuel
2.2 ASTM Adjuncts:3 oil by the cleanliness procedure indicates that the fuel contains
Reference Spot Sheet (D 4740) excessive suspended solids and is likely to cause operating
problems.
3. Terminology 5.3 Although a fuel may test clean when subjected to the
3.1 Descriptions of Terms Specific to This Standard: cleanliness procedure, suspended solids may precipitate when
3.1.1 blend stock, n—a finished residual fuel oil or fuel oil the fuel is mixed with a blend stock. Evidence of such
component, including petroleum streams ranging from kero- incompatibility is indicated by a spot rating of Number 3 or
sine to residuals and asphalt. higher in the compatibility procedure.
3.1.2 cleanliness, n—of residual fuel, the absence of sus-
6. Apparatus
pended solids in a finished sample.
6.1 Test Paper—Chromatographic or filter paper cut or
divided into appropriately sized squares, strips, or circles.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Whatman #2 Qualitative filter paper4 has been found to be
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee suitable and was used in the interlaboratory round robin study.
D02.14 on Stability and Cleanliness of Liquid Fuels.
Current edition approved June 1, 2004. Published July 2004. Originally approved
in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 4740–02.
2 4
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, [Link], or The sole source of supply of Whatman paper No. 2 known to the committee at
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@[Link]. For Annual Book of ASTM this time is Whatman, Inc., 9 Bridewell Place, Clifton, NJ 07014. If you are aware
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on of alternative suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM International
the ASTM website. Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
3
Available from ASTM Headquarters. Order Adjunct No. ADJD4740. responsible technical committee 1, which you may attend.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 4740 – 04
In case of dispute, use Whatman #2 Qualitative filter paper. NOTE 1—Mechanical shaking or mechanical mixing is recommended.
Store the paper, without folding, rolling, or bending, in a 8.3 Pour approximately 50 mL of the sample into a 100-mL
tightly closed container.
conical flask and place the flask in the heating bath or on a hot
6.2 Test Paper Support—Fig. 1 shows a suitable support for
plate.
multiple samples spotted on the same test paper, which shall be
supported in a horizontal position so nothing touches test areas 8.4 Heat the sample uniformly by stirring and maintain the
of the paper. sample temperature between 90 and 95°C for 15 to 20 min.
6.3 Oven—Any convection oven capable of maintaining an 8.5 Position the test paper so the test portion is clear of any
air temperature of 100 6 2°C. support (Fig. 1), and place in the oven for a minimum of 5 min
6.4 Reference Spot Sheet—Adjunct for D 4740. allowing the paper temperature to attain the oven temperature.
6.5 Conical Flask, 100-mL capacity. 8.6 Preheat the glass rod by dipping into and stirring the
6.6 Heating Bath or Hot Plate, capable of heating sample to heated sample for about 20 s. Withdraw the rod and allow the
a temperature between 90 and 95°C. first drop to fall back into the conical flask. Allow the second
6.7 Temperature Measuring Device, capable of accurately drop to fall onto the test paper which is supported horizontally
measuring the temperature within the tolerances required in 6.3 in the oven heated to a temperature of 100°C.
and 6.6, such as ASTM 1C thermometer, or liquid-in-glass
8.6.1 A number of samples may be spotted on the same test
thermometers, thermocouples, or platinum-resistance ther-
paper. The spot centers must not be closer than 50 mm and at
mometers that provide equivalent or better accuracy and
precision may be used. least 25 mm from the edge of the test paper.
8.7 Dry the test paper in the oven maintained at 100 6 2°C
7. Sampling for 1 h. The test paper must be kept level and supported in such
7.1 Samples for this test can come from tanks, lines, drums, a manner to prevent the spotted portion from coming into
or small containers. Use the applicable apparatus and tech- contact with any surface.
niques described in Practices D 4057 or D 4177. 8.8 After 1 h, remove the test paper from the oven. Refer to
the reference spot adjunct and to the reference spot descriptions
8. Cleanliness Procedure given in Table 1. Compare the spot with the standard spots on
8.1 Heat the sample in the original container in the heating the adjunct and record the spot number having the closest
bath or on a hot plate to above 90° to ensure the sample is in resemblance. If the sample spot is rated between two consecu-
a fluid state. tive spots on the adjunct, record the larger number.
8.2 Mix thoroughly.
NOTE 2—Ignore differences in overall darkness, color, size, and appear-
ance of the outer edges.

9. Compatibility Procedure
9.1 Pour 30 mL of test sample in an appropriate container,
heating if necessary.
9.2 Add an equal volume of blend stock to the test sample
and mix the contents thoroughly.
9.3 The equal volume of blend is generally the most severe
condition for measuring compatibility. If in actual practice an
application requires a blending ratio other than equal parts,
conduct the test using the actual blend ratio for the test results
to have a good probability of being indicative of the final
blend.
9.4 Immediately test 50 mL of the mixture as described in
8.3-8.8.

TABLE 1 Reference Spot Description

Reference
Characterizing Features
Spot No.
1 Homogeneous spot (no inner ring)
2 Faint or poorly defined inner ring
3 Well-defined thin inner ring, only slightly darker than the back-
ground
4 Well-defined inner ring, thicker than the ring in reference spot No. 3
and somewhat darker than the background
5 Very dark solid or nearly solid area in the center. The central area is
much darker than the background
FIG. 1 Support for Test Paper

2
 D 4740 – 04
10. Report [Link] Repeatability—The difference between successive
10.1 Report the cleanliness or the compatibility rating as an ratings of the same spot by the same individual viewed under
integer from 1 to 5, as determined in 8.8. Report the blend ratio same conditions would, in the long run, not exceed one rating
when other than 50:50 is used to determine the capability number only in one case in twenty.
rating. [Link] Reproducibility—The difference between two
single independent ratings obtained by different individuals for
11. Precision and Bias
the same spot viewed under the same conditions would, in the
11.1 Precision and bias statements have not been deter- long run, not exceed one rating number only in one case in
mined for the preparation of the spots; however, a precision twenty.
statement regarding how different individuals rate spots was
11.2 Bias—Since there is no accepted reference material
determined by a modified round robin test. The need for
suitable for preparing the spots used in the spot rating
statements pertaining to the preparation of the spots is being
considered. procedures in Test Method D 4740, bias has not been deter-
11.1.1 The precision of the procedure in Test Method mined.
D 4740, for different individuals using the same D 4740
Adjunct Reference Spots in conjunction with Table 1 to rate the 12. Keywords
same spots prepared in accordance with Test Method D 4740 12.1 cleanliness; compatibility; residual fuel; spot test
from field samples, as determined at a common site is as
follows:

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Subcommittee D02.14 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(D 4740–02) that may impact the use of this standard.

(1) Revised 6.1. (2) Revised 6.7.

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