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prEN 15376:2007 (E)

EUROPEAN FUEL ETHANOL SPECIFICATION
4.4
4.4.1

Generally applicable requirements and related test methods

When tested by the methods indicated in Table 1, ethanol before denaturing shall be in accordance with
the limits specified in Table 1. The test methods listed in Table 1 have been shown to be applicable to
ethanol in an inter-laboratory test program [4]. Precision data from this program are incorporated in the
test method.
4.4.2 In case of a need for identification of the biological origin of ethanol, a traceable record of biological
origin is the recommended method.
NOTE: An alternative is age determination, which is based on the beta(minus) decay of the radioactive carbon
isotope C-14 [5]. This method is considered too laborious for frequent testing, but it may be considered
as a useful tool to determine cases where the audit trail approach is contested.
Table 1 General applicable requirements and test methods for undenatured ethanol

PROPERTY

UNIT

TEST METHOD a

LIMITS
Minimum

Maximum

Ethanol content + higher

saturated alcohols

% (m/m)

Higher saturated (C3-C5)

mono-alcohols content

% (m/m)

2,0

EC/2870/2000 method III

Methanol content

% (m/m)

1,0

EC/2870/2000 method III

Water content

% (m/m)

0,300

EN 15489

mg/l

20,0

EN 15484 or prEN 15492

mg/kg

0,100

EN 15488

% (m/m)

0,007

EN 15491

Inorganic chloride content

Copper content
Total acidity (expressed as
acetic acid)
Appearance
Phosphorus content
Non-volatile material content
Sulfur content

EC/2870/2000 method I,
b
Appendix II, Method B

98,7

Clear and bright

Visual inspection

mg/l

0,50

EN 15487

mg/100ml

10

EC/2870/2000 method II

mg/kg

10,0

EN 15485 or EN 15486

a See 4.4.1.
b For ethanol purity, higher saturated (C3 C5) mono-alcohols content, methanol content and appearance, an improved test
method is under development in CEN.
c A cross check validation may show that a Karl Fischer volumetric method is also applicable, but in cases of dispute the
indicated method shall be used.
d See 4.6.2.
e For non-volatile material an improved test method is under development in CEN [6].
f See 4.6.2. These methods have special provisions for ethanol which are not incorporated in the usual petroleum test
methods such as EN ISO 20846 [7] and EN ISO 20884 [8].