SZNS 019 :2012  
 
   ICS 75.160.20                                Edition 1              
 
 
 
 
 
 
SWAZILAND NATIONAL STANDARD  
 
 
 
Standard specification for denatured fuel eth anol 
for blending with gasoline  for use as automotive 
spark -ignition engine fuel  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Published by: Swaziland Standards Authority  
SmithCo Building, 2nd Floor, 11th Street King Mswati III Avenue West  
P. O. Box 1399, Matsapha, Kingdom of Swaziland  
Telephone: +268 2518 4633, Facsimile: +268 2518 4526  
Website: www.swasa.co.sz  
E-mail: info@swasa.co.sz   
©Swaziland Standards Authority  2012  
 
 SZNS 019:2012  
Edition 1  
ii            ©SWASA 201 2– All rights reserved  
                                                                                                                                                                                                
COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
This Swaziland Standards Authority (SWASA) document is a Swaziland National Standard and is 
copyright -protected by SWASA. Neither this SWASA document  nor any extract fr om it may be 
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Requests for permission to r eproduce should be addressed to:  
The Information Officer  
Swaziland Standards Authority  
P.O. Box 1399, Matsapha  
Tel. + 268 2518 4633  
Fax: + 268 2518 4526  
E-mail: info@swasa.co.sz   
Website: www.swasa.co.sz  
 
Reprodu ction may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement . 
Violators may be prosecuted.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                     SZNS 019:2012  
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 Table of changes  
 
 
Clause 
Changed   Date  Change   
Sub-clause 8.8.1  2010  Replace ‘D512 -81’ with ‘D512 -04’   
  2010  Add Annex C – Conve rsion Table  
 
NATIONAL FOREWORD  
This Swaziland National Standard was prepared by Technical committee SWASA/TC23 Petroleum 
products and lubricants in accordance with procedures of the Swaziland Standards Authority, in 
compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT  Agreement. This Swaziland National Standard is a 
modified implementation of SANS 465:2005, Edition 1.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                   SZNS 019:2012  
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iv            ©SWASA 201 2– All rights reserved  
 Table of contents                    Page  
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
3 Terms and Definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  2 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 3 
5 Denaturants  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  3 
6 Workmanship  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 4 
7 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  4 
8 Test Methods  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  5 
9 Keywords  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  6 
Annex A (informative)   Significance of specified properties  ................................ ................................ . 7 
Annex B  (informative)   California Ethanol Requirements  ................................ ................................ ..... 9 
Annex C Conversion table  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  11 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                     SZNS 019:2012  
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 Standard Specification for Denatured Fuel Ethanol for Blending with Gasolines 
for Use as Automotive Spark -Ignition  Engine Fuel  
1 Scope  
1.1 This specification covers nominally anhydrous denatured fuel ethanol intended to be blended with 
unleaded or leaded gasolines at 1 to 10 volume % for use as a spark –ignition automotive engine fuel.  
The significance of this spec ification is shown in Annex A.  
1.2 The values stated in SI Units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parenthesis 
are for information only.   
2 Normative references   
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the applicat ion of this document.  All 
normative documents are subject to revision and, since any reference to a normative document is 
deemed to be a reference to the latest edition of that document, parties to agreements based on this 
document are encouraged to take steps to ensure the use of the most recent editions of the normative 
documents indicated below. Information on currently valid national and international standards may 
be obtained from Swaziland Standards Authority (SWASA).   
D86, Test Methods for Distillat ion of Petroleum Products at Atmospheric Pressure.    
D 381, Test Method for Gum Content in Fuels by Jet Evaporation.   
D 512, Test Methods for Chloride Ion in water.  
D 891, Test Methods for Specific Gravity, Apparent, of Liquid Industrial Chemicals.  
D1152 , Specification for Methanol (Methyl Alcohol).    
D1193, Specification for Reagent Water.    
D1613, Test Method for Acidity in Volatile Solvents and Chemical Intermediates Used in Paint, 
Vanish, Lacquer, and Related Products.    
D1688, Test Methods for Copper  in Water.    
D2622, Test Method for Sulphur in Petroleum products by wavelength Dispersive X -ray Fluorescence 
Spectrometry.    
D3120, Test method for Trace Quantities of Sulfur in Light Liquid Petroleum Hydrocarbons buys 
Oxidative Microcoulometry.   
D3505, Test Method for Density or Relative Density of Pure Liquid Chemicals.   
D4052, Test Method for Density and Relative Density of Liquids by Digital Density Meter.    
D4057, Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products.    
D4814, Specification  for Automotive Spark -Ignition Engine Fuel.  
D5453, Test Methods for Determination of Total Sulphur in Light Hydrocarbons, Motor Fuels and 
oils by Ultraviolet Fluorescence.    
D5501, Test Method for Determination of Ethanol Content of Denatured Fuel Ethano l by Gas 
Chromatography.   
 SZNS 019:2012  
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2            ©SWASA 201 2– All rights reserved  
 D5580, Test method for Determination of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, p/m -Xylene, o -Xylene, C 9 
and Heavier Aromatics, and Total Aromatics in Finished Gasoline by Gas Chromatography.  
D6423, Test Method for Determination of pHe  of Ethanol, Denatured Fuel Ethanol, and Fuel Ethanol 
(Ed75 -Ed85).  
D6428, Test Method for Total Sulphur in Liquid aromatic Hydrocarbons and their Derivatives by 
Oxidative Combustion and Electrochemical Detection.   
D6550, Test Method for Determination of O lefin Content of Gasolines by Supercritical -Fluid 
Chromatography.   
E203, Test Method for Water Using Volumetric Karl; Fischer Titration.   
E300, Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals.    
E1064, Test Method for Water in Organic Liquids by Coloumetric K arl Fischer Titration.   
United States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Part 20 and 21   
United States Federal Specification O -E-760b Ethyl alcohol (Ethanol): Denatured Alcohol: and 
Propriety Solvent   
3 Terms and Definitions   
3.1 ethanol n –ethyl a lcohol, the chemical compound C 2H5OH.  
3.2 gasoline   
a volatile mixture of liquid hydrocarbons, generally containing small amounts of additives, suitable 
for use as a fuel in spark -ignition, internal combustion engines   
3.3   
gasoline -ethanol blend  
fuel consisting  primarily of gasoline along with a substantial amount (more than 0.35 mass % 
oxygen) of denatured fuel ethanol  
3.4   
oxygenate  
oxygen containing, ashless, organic compound, such as an alcohol or ether, which may be used as a 
fuel or fuel sup plement  
3.5 denaturants   
natural gasoline, gasoline components, unleaded gasoline, or toxic or noxious materials added to fuel 
ethanol to make it unsuitable for beverage use but not unsuitable for automotive use   
3.6  
denatured fuel ethanol  fuel ethano l made unfit for beverage use by the addition of denaturants   
3.7 fuel ethanol ethanol with impurities common to its production (including water but excluding 
denaturants)  
3.8   
commercially produced fuel ethanol, compounds other than ethanol or denatura nts present , such as 
methanol and fusel oil (for example amyl and isoamyl alcohols)  
4.2.15 The employees shall  be informed of the location of all first aid kits. 
3.9 pHe  measure of the acid strength of alcohol                                                                                                                                                       SZNS 019:2012  
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 4 Requirements   
4.1 Denatured fuel ethan ol  
When fuel ethanol is denatured as specified in Clause 5 , it shall conform to the following requirements 
at the time of blending with a gasoline (see NOTE 1 and 2).  
Table 1: Requirements for denatured fuel ethanol  
Property  Requirement  
Ethanol, volu me %,  min  92.1  
Methanol, volume %, max  0.5  
Solvent – washed gum, mg/100 mL, max  1(NOTE 1)   
  
Denaturant  content, volume %, min  1.96  
Volume %, max  4.76  
Inorganic chloride content, mass ppm (mg/L) , 
max  40(32)  
Copper content, mg/kg, max  0.1  
Acidity (as acetic acid CH 3COOH)  0.007 (56) (NOTE 3)   
pHe  6.5 to 9.0  
Sulphur, mass ppm, max  30  
Appearance  Visibly free of suspended or precipitated 
contaminates (clear and bright)  
NOTE 1 In some cases, a lower water content may be necessary  to avoid phase separation of a 
gasoline –ethanol blend at very low temperatures. This reduced water content, measured at the time of 
delivery, shall be agreed upon the supplier and purchaser.  
NOTE 2 If denatured fuel ethanol is prepared by the addition o f denaturants to undenatured furl 
ethanol after it has been produced rather than during the dehydration process, the 15.56/15.56◦C 
(60/60◦F) specific gravity in air of the undenatured fuel ethanol shall be in the range from 0.7937 - 
0.7977.  
NOTE 3 Denatured fuel ethanol may contain additives, such as corrosion inhibitors and detergents, 
that may affect the titratable acidity (acidi ty as acetic acid) of the finished fuel ethanol. Although the 
base fuel ethanol may meet the acidity specification, the effect of these additives may produce an 
apparent high titratable acidity of the finished product. Contact the ethanol supplier if there  is a 
question regarding the titrable acidity of your denatured fuel ethanol to verify that the base ethanol 
meets the acidity requirements of 4.1.   
 
4.2 Other properties   
Limits more restrictive than those specified above, or the specification of additi onal properties such as 
colour, may be agreed upon between the supplier and the purchaser.   
5 Denaturants   
5.1 The only denaturants used for the fuel ethanol shall be natural gasoline components or unleaded at 
a minimum concentration of two parts by volu me per 100 parts by volume of fuel used by the Bureau SZNS 019:2012  
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4            ©SWASA 201 2– All rights reserved  
 of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) of the U.S Treasury Department is Formula C.D.A. 20. It 
requires that for every 100 gal of ethanol of not less than 195 proof, a total of 2.0 gal of denaturant be  
added. Another fuel alcohol rendered unfit for beverage use and manufactured at an alcohol fuel plant 
requires the addition of 2 gal or more of materials listed by the director to each 100 gal of ethanol. 
The fuel ethanol formulas approved by the U.S. Tre asury Department include materials, which are not 
allowed by this ASTM specification. This specification prohibits the use of hydrocarbons with an end 
boiling point higher than 225 ˚C (437 ˚F) as determined by Test Method D86, although they may be 
permitted by BAFT regulations. Some kerosenes, for instance, promote piston scuff in automotive 
engines. The denaturants permitted by this specification maybe included as part of the 10 vol ume % 
denatured  fuel ethanol blended with a gasoline if they do not exceed five parts by volume per 100 
parts by volume of fuel; ethanol. This is permitted in the United States by law. Any part of these 
denaturants that are present at a concentration high er than five parts by volume per 100 parts by 
volume of fuel ethanol are considered as part of  the base gasoline.  
NOTE BATF regulations concerning the preparation, use, and handling of denatured ethanols are published in 
the United States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 27, Parts 19, 20 and 21. 27 CFR 19.1005 contains 
regulations for rendering fuel alcohol unfit for beverage use, 27 CFR 21.24 contains the formula for 
manufacturing completely denatured alcohol, C.D.A 20.  
5.2 Prohibited denaturants   
Although this specification permits only hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range to be used 
denaturants, specific mention must n be made of some materials that have extremely adverse effects 
on fuel stability, automotive engines, and fuel systems. These ma terials shall not be used as 
denaturants for fuel ethanol under any circumstances.   
They are as follows: methanol which does not meet Specification D 1152, pyrroles, turpentine, 
ketones, and tars (high -molecular weight pyrolysis products of fossil or non -fossil vegetable matter), 
While any significant amount of methanol will lower the water tolerance and increase the vapour 
pressure of a gasoline ethanol blend, these effects become more serious when methanol is present at 
more than 2.5 parts by volume per 100 parts by volume of fuel ethanol. Also, methanol which does 
not Specification D 1152, frequently, contains impurities such as turpentine and tars. Similarly, ketone 
denaturants tend to degrade fuel stability or increase the tendency of a gasoline ethano l blend to 
corrode metals and attack elastomers. These effects become more serious if the concentration of a 
ketone such as 4 -methyl pentanone (methyl isobutyl ketone) exceeds one part by volume per 100 parts 
by volume of fuel ethanol. There is no informat ion available on the effects of denaturants other than 
those mentioned above: but unless a denaturant, such as a higher aliphatic alcohol or ether, is known 
to have no adverse effect on a gasoline -ethanol blend or on automotive engines or fuel systems, it 
shall not be used.  
6 Workmanship  
6.1 The fuel ethanol shall be visually free of sediment and suspended matter. It shall be clear and 
bright at the ambient temperature or 21°C (70°F), whichever is higher.  
6.2 The specification defines only a basic purity  for this product. The product shall be free of any 
adulterant or contaminant that may render the material unacceptable for its commonly used 
applications.   
7 Sampling  
7.1 Samples may be obtained by an appropriate procedure of Practice D 4057 or E 300, e xcept that 
water displacement (in section on Sampling for Specific Tests in D 4057) must not be used. Where 
practical, fuel ethanol should be sampled in glass containers. If samples must be collected in metal 
containers, do not use soldered metal container s, although they are specified in the Sampling                                                                                                                                                     SZNS 019:2012  
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 Equipment section in Practice E 300, because the soldering flux in the containers may contaminate the 
sample.  
7.2 Sample Size — A minimum of about 1 L or 1 U.S. qt is recommended. If specific gravity is to be 
determined by a hydrometer method, additional volume may be required. This depends on the size of 
the hydrometer.   
7.3 Lot Size — A lot shall normally consist of the amount contained in a tanker compartment or other 
bulk container in which it is delivered.  If this definition does not apply, the definition of a lot must be 
agreed upon between the supplier and purchaser.   
NOTE 5 —See Sections 5, 6, and 7 on Significance, Safety, and Statistical Considerations, respectively, of 
Practice E 300 for a detailed di scussion of the statistics of sampling .  
8 Test Methods  
8.1 The scope of some of the test methods specified in 8.2 -8.10 do not include denatured fuel ethanol. 
The precisions of those test methods may differ from the reported precisions when testing denatu red 
fuel ethanol.  
8.2 Water Content —Test Methods E 203 or E 1064.  
8.3 Solvent -Washed Gum Content —Test Method D 381, air jet apparatus.  
8.4 Acidity —Test Method D 1613.  
8.5 pHe—Test Method D 6423.  
8.6 Appearance — The product shall be visibly free of sus pended or precipitated contaminants (clear 
and bright). This shall be determined at indoor ambient temperature unless otherwise agreed upon 
between the supplier and the purchaser.  
8.7 Specific Gravity —Test Methods D 891, Procedure B or Test Method D 4052.  For Test Methods D 
891, Procedure B (hydrometer), no formal precision statement is available, but practical experience 
indicates that precision is no better than 0.0005. Test Methods D 891 Procedure C (pycnometer), with 
an inter -laboratory precision (repr oducibility) of 0.0002, should be used as a referee method.  
8.8 Inorganic Chloride Content —Modification of Test Methods D 512 –81(1985) e1, Method C.       
8.8.1  The modification of Test Methods D 512 –04 Method C consists of using 5 mL of sample diluted 
with 20 mL of water in place of the 25 -mL sample specified in the standard procedure. The water 
shall meet Specification D 1193, Type II. The volume of the sample prepared by this modification 
will be slightly larger than 25 mL. To allow for the dilution fac tor, report the chloride ion present in 
the fuel ethanol sample as the chloride ion present in the diluted sample multiplied by five.  
8.8.2  The precision of this modified method has not been determined, but for the actual amount of 
chloride ion found in t he diluted sample, it is expected to be similar to the precision of Test Methods 
D 512 –81(1985)e1, Method C.  
8.9 Copper Content —Modification of Test Methods D 1688, Test Method A.  
8.9.1  The modifications of Test Methods D 1688, Test Method A (atomic abso rption, direct) consists 
of mixing reagent -grade ethanol (which may be denatured according to BATF of the U.S. Treasury 
Department Formula 3A or 30) in place of water as the solvent or diluent for the preparation of 
reagents and standard solutions.   
Howev er, this must not be done to prepare the stock copper solution described in the section on 
Copper Solution, Stock in Test Method D 1688. Because a violent reaction may occur between the 
acid and the ethanol, use water, as specified, in the acid solution pa rt of the procedure to prepare the 
stock copper solution. Use ethanol for the rinse and final dilution only.  SZNS 019:2012  
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6            ©SWASA 201 2– All rights reserved  
 8.9.2  The precision of this modified method has not been determined, but it is expected to be similar 
to the precision of Test Method D 1688, Test  Method A.  
8.10 Ethanol Content —Test Method D 5501.  
8.11 Sulfur Content —Test Methods D 2622, D 3120, D 5453, or D 6428. California specifies that 
compliance with the California sulfur standard for denatured ethanol shall be determined using Test 
Method D  5453 –93. EPA allows Test Methods D 3120, D 5453, or D 6428 for measuring sulfur in 
gasoline as long as these alternative test method results are correlated to the EPA designated Test 
Method D 2622 when determining compliance with Federal EPA sulfur standa rds.  
9 Keywords  
9.1 acidity; automotive spark -ignition engine fuel; base gasoline; chloride ion content; copper content; 
corrosion inhibitors; denaturants; denatured fuel ethanol; ethanol; ethanol content; ethanol purity; 
fuel; fuel ethanol; gasoline; ga soline - ethanol blend; impurities; oxygenate; solvent -washed gum; 
water content  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Annex A  
(informative)  
Significance of specified properties  
A.1 Denatured Fuel Alcohol  
A.1.1  Water Content —Karl Fischer analysis is generally the only c onsistently reliable procedure for the 
determination of water in denatured ethanol. Test Method E 203  describes the modifications required to 
run the test in the presence of alcohols. Specific gravity methods such as Test Methods D 891  and D 3505  
are gener ally unsuitable for the reasons given in A1.2.1 . Blends of fuel ethanol and gasoline have a limited 
solvency for water. This solvency will vary with the ethanol content, the temperature of the blend, and the 
aromatic content of the base gasoline. A fuel ma de by blending 10 volume % fuel ethanol with a gasoline 
containing 14 volume % aromatics and 0.6 mass % dissolved water (about 0.5 volume %), will separate 
into a lower alcohol -rich aqueous phase and an upper hydrocarbon phase if cooled to about 7°C (45°F) . As 
normal spark -ignition engines will not run on the aqueous phase material, such a separation is likely to 
cause serious operating problems. Because some  degree of water contamination is practically unavoidable 
in transport and handling, and because gas oline -ethanol blends are hygroscopic, the water content of the 
denatured fuel ethanol must be limited when it is blended with gasoline to reduce the risk of phase 
separation.  
A.1.2  Solvent -Washed Gum Content :  
A.1.2.1  The test for solvent -washed gum conte nt measures the amount of residue after evaporation of the 
fuel and following a heptane wash. The heptane wash removes the heptane -soluble, non -volatile material 
such as additives, carrier oils used with additives, and diesel fuels. Solvent -washed gum cons ists of fuel -
insoluble gum and fuel -soluble gum. The fuel -insoluble portion can clog fuel filters. Both can be deposited 
on surfaces when the fuel evaporates.   
A.1.2.2  Solvent -washed gum can contribute to deposits on the surfaces of carburetors, fuel injec tors, and 
intake manifolds, ports, valves, and valve guides. The impact of solvent washed gum from pure alcohols 
such as ethanol on malfunctions of modern engines is not known. The test method is used essentially to 
detect the presence of high boiling, hep tane insoluble impurities.  
A.1.2.3  Because the precision statements for Test Method D 381  were developed using only data on 
hydrocarbons, they may not be applicable to denatured fuel ethanol.  
A.1.3  Chloride Ion Content —Low concentrations of chloride ions  are corrosive to many metals.  
A.1.4  Copper Content —Copper is a very active catalyst for the low -temperature oxidation of 
hydrocarbons. Experimental work has shown that copper concentrations higher than 0.012 mass ppm in 
commercial gasolines may significa ntly increase the rate of gum formation.  
A.1.5  Acidity —Very dilute aqueous solutions of low molecular weight organic acids such as acetic 
(CH 3COOH) are highly corrosive to many metals. It is therefore necessary to keep such acids at a very low 
level.  
A.1.6 pHe—when the pHe of ethanol used as a fuel for automotive spark -ignition engines is below 6.5, 
fuel pumps can malfunction as a result of film forming between the brushes and commutator, fuel injectors 
can fail from corrosive wear, and excessive engine c ylinder wear can occur. When the pHe is above 9.0, 
fuel pump plastic parts can fail. The adverse effects are less when ethanol is used at 10 volume % in a 
blend with gasoline.  
A.1.7  Appearance —Turbidity or evidence of precipitation normally indicates majo r contamination.  
A1.8  Ethanol Purity — The presence of even small quantities of some organic oxygen compounds other 
than ethanol may adversely affect the properties of fuel ethanol -gasoline blends.  
A.1.9  Sulfate Content — The presence of small amounts of i norganic sulfates in denatured ethanol under 
the right conditions can contribute to turbine meter deposits and the premature plugging of fuel dispensing SZNS 019:2012  
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8            ©SWASA 201 2– All rights reserved  
 pump filters in the fuel distribution system. The sulfates also have been shown to cause fuel injector 
sticking resulting in engine misfiring and poor driveability in automobiles.  
A.1.10  Denaturant —Hydrocarbon denaturant (see clause 5) is required by federal regulations for 
denatured fuel ethanol. The regulations limit both the minimum and maximum amount t hat can be used. 
Denatured ethanol producers often use meters to control the amount of denaturant present. Current 
analytical procedures only provide an estimate of the denaturant content.  
  
A2. Undenatured Ethanol  
A.2.1  Specific Gravity —The density of a  water -ethanol mixture is primarily a function of its water content. 
Normal U.S. industry practice and Federal regulations call for the use of the 15.56/15.56°C (60/60°F) 
specific gravity in air as the control method for water content of undenatured ethano l. Because the addition 
of denaturants will normally affect specific gravity, specific gravity methods are generally not suitable for 
determining the water content of denatured ethanol.  
A.2.2  Sulfur Content —The Federal Tier 2 Motor Vehicle and Emissions S tandards and Gasoline Sulfur 
Control Requirements establish sulfur standards for refineries and importers producing reformulated 
gasoline, Reformulated Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (RBOB), and conventional gasoline. EPA has 
established gasoline sulfur  controls to support vehicle emission standards. Sulfur contaminates the catalytic 
converter necessary for reducing emissions of HC, CO, and NO x.  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Annex B  
(informative)  
California Ethanol Requirements  
B.1 California Ethanol Requireme nts  
B.1.1  The California Air Resources Board has approved standards for denatured ethanol to be field 
blended with California Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (CARBOB) to make 
California Phase 3 Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG3). Stand ards also have been specified for the 
denaturant. These California standards for denatured ethanol and denaturant became effective December 
31, 2003.  
B.1.2  The California standards for denatured ethanol set maximum limits on sulfur, benzene, olefins, and 
aromatics contents as shown in Table 1 , and also require the denatured ethanol to comply with the 
performance requirements in Specification D 4806 -99.   
B.1.3  California specifies that compliance with the sulfur standard shall be determined by testing the 
denatured ethanol using Test Method D 5453 -93. California specifies that compliance with the standards 
for benzene, olefins, and aromatics contents shall be determined by testing a sample of the denaturant 
using the test methods specified for CARB gasoline , and then calculating the content of those compounds 
in the denatured ethanol, multiplying the test value by 0.0476 (except where it is demonstrated that the 
denatured ethanol contains less than 4.76 % denaturant, then the test results are multiplied by t he decimal 
fraction representing the percent denaturant).   
Table 1: California Denatured Ethanol Standards (In Addition to the Performance  
Requirements in ASTM D 4806 -99)  
Property  Specification 
Limit  Test method  
Sulphur mass ppm, max  10  D 5453 -93  
Benzene, vol %, max   0.06  D 5580 -00 test results of a sample of 
the denaturant multiplied by 0.0476  
(see B.1.3 for exceptions)  
Olefins, vol % max   0.5  D 6550 -00 (modified) test results of a 
sample of the denaturant multiplied by  
0.0476 (see B.1.3 for exceptions)  
Aromatics, vol % max   1.7  D 5580 -00 test results of a sample  of 
the denaturants multiplied by  0.0476  
(see B.1.3 for exceptions)  
  
  
B.1.4  California allows an exception to the limits shown in Table 1 where the denatured ethanol sup plier 
takes reasonably prudent precautions to ensure the denatured ethanol that exceeds these limits will only be 
added to a specially designed CARBOB which has been designated to be blended with such transfer of 
denatured ethanol. All CaRFG3 requirements for the final blend shall be met.  
B.1.5  California specifies the standards for the denaturant used in denatured ethanol as shown in Table 2 . 
Also shown are the test methods required to determine compliance.  SZNS 019:2012  
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10            ©SWASA 201 2– All rights reserved  
 B.1.6  California standards allow higher amounts  of benzene, olefins, and aromatics in the denaturant if the 
supplier takes necessary precautions to ensure that when added to the ethanol, the level is less than 4.76 
vol % and the limits in Table 1 are met.  
 
Table 2: California Denaturant Standards  
 
Property  Specification limit  Test method  
Benzene, vol & max   1.1  D 5580 -00  
Olefins, vol % max  10  D6550 -00 (modified)  
Aromatics, vol % max   35  D 5580 -00  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Annex C  
(informative)  
 Conversion table  
C.1 1gallon = 3 ,785 L  
C.2 Strength volume = proof number ÷ 2  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 SZNS 019:2012  
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ICS 75.160.20   
  Price based on  11 pages