IP 583 - new test method

18/10/2010

FAME in JET...

Rapid Screening Test for FAME in JET – IP 583 now a published test method

Stanhope Seta is pleased to announce that the Energy Institute (London) has now published a new test method IP 583 – the first method for the Rapid Screening of FAME in JET (AVTUR).

The patented Fame In Jet Instrument (FIJI) has been in development for more than 3 years and offers the industry a rapid and easy check on Parts Per Million (PPM or mg/kg) levels of FAME in Aviation fuel. FIJI utilises state of the art FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy) technology and a patented sample preparation system which allows FAME detection accuracy down to the 20mg/kg level.

The FIJI instrument is both robust and extremely simple to use - it is suitable for both lab and field applications. No specialist operator training is required and FIJI is fully automatic, requiring less than 50ml of sample. The test typically takes under 20 minutes and results are presented in mg/kg units together with an optional traffic light system for flagging FAME contamination levels of the fuel. By comparison current analytical tests can take many hours, require complex equipment and demand high skill levels.

Precision has been established from an extensive international round robin program, and typical values show a reproducibility of 4mg/kg for 20mg/kg samples and 5.5 mg/kg for 100mg/kg samples. The instrument has the capability of measuring from under 20mg/kg to over 500mg/kg (20 to over 500ppm), although the published precision in IP583 is from 20mg/kg to 150mg/kg (20 to 150ppm FAME). 

A key advantage over other analytical FAME in Jet methods currently available is FIJI’s ability to detect all types of FAME in the range C8 to C22.

FIJI uses FTIR to detect the contaminant FAME (fatty acid methyl ester). The FTIR model has been subject to extensive development with more than 1000 tests on jet fuel samples from refineries, storage and distribution facilities globally. Many of the major international aviation oil companies have participated in the sample supply and round robin studies. The model has additionally been validated against ASTM E1655 and independent studies have confirmed that it is in full compliance with this standard practice.

Current DEF STAN 91-91 and ASTM D1655 specifications state a maximum safe limit of 5mg/kg in Aviation Fuel, however an industry wide research project is currently evaluating the effect of FAME at higher concentrations. The lifting of the 5ppm limit to a higher level is expected as a result of the research project.

FIJI can however be used today as a rapid field or lab based screening tool. The instrument will give a quick indication of possible FAME contamination that may then necessitate further investigations. 

FIJI is shipping now and available from Stanhope Seta, UK.