| Property |
Proposed requirements in Discussion Document |
Submissions |
Ministry comment |
Final Recommendation |
| Ethanol |
95.6 % volume min
ASTM D5501 |
Three oil companies proposed that a limit for higher alcohols be included.
JAMA advocated a higher minimum ethanol percentage of 97.5%. |
A limit of higher than 95.6% (including higher alcohols) would be preferable but appropriate test methods for measuring higher alcohols in denatured fuel ethanol are not available.
95.6% will align with the proposed Australian specification. |
95.6 % volume min
ASTM D5501 |
| Methanol |
0.5 % volume max
ASTM D5501 |
All but one submission supported. |
|
0.5 % volume max
ASTM D5501 |
| Denaturant Type |
New Zealand Spec Petrol |
Two oil companies suggested that any petrol of reasonable quality be able to be used to facilitate importation.
One oil company requested that the use of bitrex (a denaturing agent) be approved. |
Petrol is the preferred denaturant so as to avoid any vehicle operability issues. Petrol (at 1% by volume) is approved as a denaturant by both the New Zealand Customs Service and under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act by way of the Denatured Ethanol Group Standard.
Petrol is not required to meet the full New Zealand specification to facilitate denaturing overseas. |
The denaturant contained in ethanol must be unleaded regular grade or premium grade petrol with the following minimum characteristics:
i. End point - 210°C max
ii. Sulphur - 50 mg/kg max
iii. Clear and bright |
| Denaturant |
1 to 1.5 % volume
ASTM D5501 |
All submissions supported. |
|
Ethanol must contain denaturant and the type and volume of the denaturant must be declared.
1 to 1.5 % volume
ASTM D5501 |
| Water content |
1 % volume max
ASTM E203 |
All but two submissions supported the proposed limit. These two submitters wanted a limit of 0.5 % volume limit |
Lower water content is preferable. 1 % is an absolute limit and is consistent with most international specifications. |
1.0 % volume max
ASTM E203 |
| Solvent-washed gum |
5 mg/100 ml max
ASTM D381 |
All submissions supported. |
|
5 mg/100 ml max
ASTM D381 |
| Inorganic Chloride content |
32 mg/L max
ASTM D512-81 (1985), Method C (as modified in ASTM D4806) |
All but one submission supported. |
|
32 mg/L max
ASTM D512-81 (1985), Method C (as modified in ASTM D4806) |
| Copper content |
0.1 mg/kg max
ASTM D1688A (as modified in ASTM D4806) |
All submissions supported. |
|
mg/kg max
ASTM D1688A (as modified in ASTM D4806) |
| Sulphate |
4 mg/kg max
ASTM D7318, ASTM D7319, and ASTM D7328 |
All submissions supported. |
|
4 mg/kg max
ASTM D7318, ASTM D7319, and ASTM D7328 |
| Sulphur |
30 mg/kg max
IP 497 or ASTM D5453 |
All but one submission supported 30 mg/kg. JAMA proposed a limit of 10 mg/kg. |
30 mg/kg is below the sulphur limit for petrol and considered sufficient. The limit for ethanol would be reduced to 10 mg/kg when the petrol spec is reduced to 10 mg/kg. |
30 mg/kg max
IP 497 or ASTM D5453 |
| Acidity (as acetic acid CH3COOH) |
0.007 % mass max
ASTM D1613 |
All submissions supported. |
|
0.007 % mass max
ASTM D1613 |
| pHe |
6.5 – 9.0
ASTM D6423 |
All submissions supported. |
|
6.5 – 9.0
ASTM D6423 |
| Appearance |
Clear and bright without particles
ASTM D4806 |
All submissions supported. |
|
Clear and bright without particles
ASTM D4806 |
| Corrosion Inhibitor |
Corrosion inhibitor must be added. |
Majority of submissions supported the requirement to add corrosion inhibitor. Two oil companies questioned whether this requirement was necessary.
Only one submission suggested that it was necessary to specify a list of approved inhibitors. |
The use of corrosion inhibitor is considered good practice internationally and to minimise the likelihood of any corrosion issues it is proposed that corrosion inhibitor be required in all cases.
It is considered appropriate for industry to determine the most suitable additive type, as is the current approach for other fuel additives. |
Ethanol must contain a corrosion inhibitor and the type and dose rate of the corrosion inhibitor must be declared. |