Reference Methods and Standards for Fossil Fuel Characterization

The provision of accurate, accepted chemical characterization determinations is critical for those materials such as fossil fuels, whose commercial value, properties, or suitability for use depend on their chemical composition. This project requires ongoing identification of critical needs of the petroleum industry as they respond to increasingly stringent regulations both in the national and international arena. The NIST role requires the development, critical evaluation, and transfer to industry of measurement capabilities meeting specific accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity criteria. This most often results in the development of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) with certified values for critical elements (such as sulfur and mercury) or compounds (such as red dye) in fossil fuels that can be used to validate field and secondary laboratory methods. These methods are used to demonstrate regulatory compliance, and verify product quality at the point of transfer from seller to buyer.

• SRMs in support of new lower regulatory levels of sulfur in fossil fuels:
  SRM 1616 B - Sulfur in Kerosene
  SRM 1624 D - Sulfur in Kerosene
  SRM 2693 - Low Sulfur/Mercury Coal
  SRM 2770 - Sulfur in Diesel Fuel
• Calibration standard for spectrophotometers used to monitor regulatory compliance of use of red dye mixture to differentiate diesel fuel such as those used in off-road vehicles or as heating oil that are not subject to “fuel road taxes”
  SRM 2037 - Solvent Red 24 Diesel Fuel Dye
• Participation in BIPM Consultative Committee on the Quantity of Matter (CCQM) comparison exercises to establish comparability internationally.
  CCQM-K35 - Low sulfur in fuel.

• Renewals of high-priority SRMs as needed in support of characterization of commodities
• Continue strong interactions with representatives of various commodity sectors
• Research and services in support of measurement needs of commodity sectors.