DETERMINATION of WATER in PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
by the CALCIUM HYDRIDE METHOD
ISO/DIS 9114
Originally developed by “FINA “, the so called “FINA AQUATEST” is a simple but accurate method to
determine the presence of water in all kinds of Petroleum products.
- The need for a simple , rapid , accurate and cheap method for
the determination of water in petroleum products has long been
recognised.
- Fina Research designed a simple and easy to operate
apparatus, called the “FINA AQUATEST”. It determines the
water contentin less than 5 minutes on non volatile products with
a water content between 0.01% volume and 1.0% volume.
Determinations with an accuracy of the order 0.01% volume can
be performed.
- The “FINA AQUATEST” apparatus is extensively used by
shipping and road fleet companies for oil and combustible
control.
- The “FINA AQUQTEST”, mounted in a plastic box, is sold
ready for use with reagents allowing 50 determinations.
- Measuring Procedure :
1. Measure 20 ml or 10 ml of sample into the clean and dry
reactionflask A.
2. Dilute the sample with 20 ml or 10 ml solvent, add a few drops
of red liquid from the squeeze bottle and stir the mixture.
For highly viscous samples increase the volume of solvent.
Code nr.
Description
AQUA
Complete Aquatest apparatus, 50 determinations
AQ/C
3. Connect flask A to stopcock D, adjust the liquid level (in burette
B)to zero by means of the 3-way stopcock C and the equilibrium AQ/B
flask E and turn the stopcock C thereafter for 180°.
4. Take a reagent capsule and remove the capsule cap.
Put the opened capsule in the hole of the stopcock D.
5. Introduce the reagent capsule in the reaction flask A by slowly
turning the stopcock D to disperse powder slowly into the liquid;
shake the flask A gently at the start to avoid excessive foaming
when much water is present and afterwards vigorously but
intermittently to improve the contact between the sample and
the reagent powder.
6. Measure the water content in burette B after balancing the
pressure by means of the flask E.
7. Read the water content on the graduated scale.
Reagent capsules in bottles of 50 pcs
Bleu liquid, per litre
AQ/R
Red liquid, per 50 ml
AQ/V
Laboratory grease, 35gr.
AQ/A
Reaction flask A
AQ/PS
Plastic stopcock D + stopper
AQ/G
Gasburette B
AQ/E
Equilibrium flask E
AQ/P
1 length of Paradarm (DxB)
AQ/T
1 length of Tygon (BxE)
- For samples having a water content higher than 1% use a 10 or
a 5 ml sample and multiply the reading by 2 or 4.
- In order to obtain a better precision on samples having a low
water content, use a 40 ml sample and divide the reading by 2.
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