Two Ion Chromatography Methods to Determine Sulphate and Total Chloride in Butanol

Thermo Fisher Scientific (USA) is pleased to announce the release of two simple ion chromatography (IC) analytical methods as per ASTM D7328-07 and ASTM D7319-09 for butanol, the next-generation biofuel: Application Note 296, Assay of Fuel-Grade Butanol for Total and Potential Sulfate and Total Chloride Per ASTM D7328-07 and Application Note 297, Determination of Total and Potential Sulphate and Total Chloride in Fuel-Grade Butanol Per ASTM D7319-09

Although permissible sulphate and chloride limits have not been defined for butanol, current ethanol specifications for sulphate and chloride per ASTM D4806-11A are a good benchmark. Both methods utilise an anion-exchange column with suppressed conductivity detection.

Butanol is increasingly regarded as an alternative to ethanol as a fuel additive by the global energy market because butanol it has several desirable characteristics, such as high energy density, low vapour pressure, and low water solubility.