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Annex 2 – Ethanol Specifications


This Document is Archived


Cabinet Paper - Regulating Biofuel Quality and Labelling Requirements

Hon Harry Duynhoven, Associate Minister of Energy
[ Last Updated 22 April 2008 ]


  1. The ethanol must contain denaturant and the type and volume of the denaturant must be declared.
  2. The ethanol must contain a corrosion inhibitor and the type and dose rate of the corrosion inhibitor must be declared.
  3. The ethanol must conform to the parameters set out in the following table:
Property Unit Minimum Maximum Test Method
Ethanol % volume 95.6 ASTM D5501
Methanol % volume 0.5 ASTM D5501
Denaturant1 % volume 1 1.5 ASTM D5501
Water content % volume 1.0 ASTM E203
Solvent-washed gum mg/100 ml 5 ASTM D381
Inorganic Chloride content mg/L 32 ASTM D512-81 (1985), Method C (as modified in ASTM D4806)
Copper content mg/kg 0.1 ASTM D1688A (as modified in ASTM D4806)
Sulphate mg/kg 4 ASTM D7318, ASTM D7319, and ASTM D7328
Sulphur mg/kg 30 IP 497 or ASTM D5453
Acidity (as acetic acid CH3COOH) % mass 0.007 ASTM D1613
pHe 6.5 9.0 ASTM D6423
Appearance
Clear and bright
ASTM D4806

1. The denaturant contained in ethanol must be unleaded regular grade or premium grade petrol with the following minimum characteristics:

a. End point - 210°C maximum

b. Sulphur - 50 mg/kg maximum

c. Clear and bright


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