Jul 11 2008
Solvent Yellow 124, a fuel dye, was introduced as a common marker in the European Union in 2002. The marker, known as SY124, is added to low-duty fuels (e.g. heating fuels which also contain traditional dyes) by the petroleum industry to distinguish them from higher taxed road fuels and thus prevent misuse.
Large fines can be imposed on petroleum companies if SY124 levels are found to be below 6 mg/L or above 9 mg/L. SY124 is produced industrially in solution (typically in aromatic hydrocarbons) and as the amount present can vary from batch to batch, refineries can have difficulty determining the correct amount of marker to add.
LGC has prepared and certified a new solvent-free reference material for SY124 – ERM-AC316a. Using this new certified reference material will help the petroleum industry to accurately determine the amount of SY124 in their solutions, thus enabling the appropriate quantity of marker to be added.
Production of this reference material was supported under contract with the UK’s Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills’ National Measurement System Chemical and Biological Programme.
LGC’s Research and Technology Division, based in Teddington in the UK, acts as the designated UK National Measurement Institute (NMI) for Chemical and Biochemical measurement, and has a long history in the development and validation of analytical methods and the production of reference materials. LGC's Research and Technology Division is accredited to ISO Guide 34 (General Requirements for the competence of reference materials producers) for the production of reference materials.