ASTM Approves Column Set  

Labs testing ethanol-containing finished gasolines now have a better alternative to TCEP columns—at its recent meeting, the ASTM D02 Committee announced a revision to method D3606 which now includes the D3606 column set from Restek (USA). This column set separates benzene from ethanol completely and much more reliably than TCEP columns, resulting in more accurate quantification and tighter process control. Since a third column is not required, use of this column set simplifies installation and analysis. Additionally, all D3606 column sets are tested for method applicability and have higher thermal stability than TCEP columns, resulting in longer column lifetimes.