Applications

The thermometric titration method presented here permits a simple and direct determination of the total acid number (TAN) in petroleum products. It is an invaluable alternative to current manual and potentiometric methods. Thermometric titration uses a maintenance-free temperature sensor that does not require rehydration and is free of fouling and matrix effects. The procedure requires minimal sample preparation. Results agree closely with those from the potentiometric titrimetric procedure according to ASTM D664, but the thermometric titration method is far superior in terms of reproducibility and speed of analysis, with determinations being complete in approximately one minute.

The determination of the acid number plays a significant role in the analysis of petroleum products. This is manifested in the numerous standard procedures in use over the world (internal specifications of multinational companies, national and international specifications of ASTM, DIN, IP, ISO, etc.). These procedures differ mainly in the composition of the used solvents and titrants.This bulletin describes the determination of the acid number in petroleum products by applying different types of titration.The potentiometric determination is described according to ASTM D664, the photometric according to ASTM D974 and the thermometric titration according to ASTM D8045.

Fresh as well as used petroleum products may contain acidic components as additives or degradation products. The acid number (AN) is a measure for the relative amount of acids present expressed as mg KOH per g sample. Moreover, AN is used as a quality parameter of lubricating oils both for assessing the quality of new formulations and as an indicator for the degradation of such formulations during service. The use of a pH electrode suitable for non-aqueous titrations ensures the reliable determination of the equivalence point. A flexible sleeve diaphragm facilitates its cleaning especially after use in heavily contaminated samples, such as in used engine oils. Using the correct electrode greatly increases the precision and reliability of the results. This Application Note describes the potentiometric determination of the acid number according to ASTM D664 and IP 177 using the pH electrode Solvotrode easyClean.

Fully automated determination of the total acid number and total base number in engine oils according to ASTM D664 and ASTM D2896 is possible with the OMNIS Titrator.

The acid number (AN) is a measure for the quality of oils and their potential to enhance corrosion. When analyzing fresh, unused oils, the AN is used to ensure the specified quality from the manufacturer, whereas for used oils the AN is determined to observe its increase until a critical level is reached. Although it is generally assumed that the AN correlates to the corrosive potential of the oil, this is not exactly correct, as it is the change of the AN value which indicates this issue. Therefore it is necessary to determine the AN on a regular basis.Several standards already exist to determine AN via titration methods, however it is also possible to measure this parameter via spectroscopic (NIRS) methodology. No matter which technique you choose, Metrohm has you covered with high-performance instruments suitable for these published norms.