VUV Analytics Inc. announced a significant accomplishment, as the ASTM international committee for fuel regulations approved ASTM D8267 for the analysis of jet fuel.
VUV Analytics developed this method in response to the December 2018 bulletin in which ASTM determined that ASTM D1319, the referee method for evaluation of “Standard Test Method for Hydrocarbon Types in Liquid Petroleum Products by Fluorescent Indicator Adsorption,” is no longer possible because the dye necessary for the test is in limited supply and a suitable replacement is not available. Final publication of this method will be available on the ASTM website in the coming weeks.
“Expanding the ASTM D8071 method for gasoline to jet fuel was the logical next step for us and we are glad to provide a superior alternative to the oil and gas market,” said Clark Jernigan, CEO of VUV Analytics. As the bulletin from December 2018 mentions, the only other approved alternative to ASTM D1319 for jet fuel certification is ASTM D6379, an HPLC method. Jernigan further commented, “Both the current referee method and the alternative come with significant overhead and cost. However, the combination of the VUV Analyzer™ for Fuels running ASTM D8267 is ten times (10X) less expensive to operate than ASTM D1319 and five times (5X) less expensive than ASTM D6739.”
VUV Analytics developed the method and submitted to ASTM for both sub-committee and main committee approvals in less than six months. Even more remarkable than the approval of an analysis method in such a short time, they have also completed an InterLaboratory Study (ILS), which demonstrates precision and reproducibility of the method across multiple laboratories. “Traditionally, an ILS of this type can take up to five years. Due to our technology’s ability to analyze jet fuel on the same hardware configuration as ASTM D8071 (for gasoline), we were able to perform the ILS within a month. Our clients really appreciate the fact that the VUV Analyzer for Fuels can easily be used for both gasoline and jet fuel products -- saving them time and money,” commented Sean Jameson, SVP of business development, VUV Analytics.
In addition to the approval of ASTM D8267, VUV Analytics is also announcing the availability of the VUV Analyzer for Fuels, which is capable of running numerous applications. “The VUV Analyzer for Fuels Platform is so much more than just a way to run ASTM D8267,” commented Peter Boler, VP of marketing, VUV Analytics, “rather, this system provides a single analysis platform that is capable of rapidly switching between different methods like ASTM D8267, ASTM D8071 for gasoline, aromatics in Diesel Fuel analysis and Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis (ASTM WK64297) with no changes in hardware or setup. Offering a single, comprehensive platform for this type of testing greatly simplifies the operational and cost challenges our customers face in today’s laboratory environment.”