Determination of Chloride and Sulfate in Fuel Ethanol by Ion Chromatography

Introduction

Recently, ethanol has received much attention as an alternative fuel. It is mixed with gasoline as a fuel in automobiles. Residues are known to form in the engine when the ethanol fuel contains chlorides and sulfates, and this causes sluggish performance of the engine. ASTM D4806-08a (American Society for Testing and Materials (United States)) is a standard that regulates ethanol fuel, and ASTM D7319-07 specifies that ion chromatography is to be used as the official method for analyzing chlorides and sulfates in ethanol fuel. Here we present an example of analysis using the Prominence HIC-SP suppressor-type ion chromatograph which pertains only to this analytical method.

October 28, 2009 GMT