Accurate Characterization of Sulfur in Biodiesel Fuel Certified Reference Material

Abstract

A certified reference material (CRM), NMIJ CRM 8302-a, for the quality control of biodiesel fuel analysis has been issued by the National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ, AIST). This CRM is based on 100 % fatty acid methyl esters (palm oil-based, B100 Biodiesel). The certified parameters are content of water and 6 elements (S, Na, K, Mg, Ca and P); density and kinematic viscosity. The methods for the accurate characterization of sulfur in biodiesel fuel certified reference material are described. The concentration (mass fraction) of sulfur was determined by three inductively coupled plasma tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer (ICP-MS/MS) methods and a combustion ion chromatography (CIC) method. The CIC result was validated by determining sulfur content in three certified reference materials (NIST SRM 2773, NIST SRM 2298 and NIST SRM 2299). The certified value of sulfur in the CRM 8302-a was determined as the weighted mean of the results of the above four methods.