ICS 97.040.20 
 
Reference number  
DRS 574: 2024  
© RSB 2024  
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
574  
 
First edition  
2024 -mm-dd 
 
Ethanol gel for cooking and other burning 
appliances  — Specification  
   
DRS 574: 2024  
©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2024  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Tel. +250 788303492  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 574: 2024  
iii                ©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  2 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  3 
4.1 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  3 
4.2 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  4 
4.3 Safety in use of the gel  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  4 
4.4 Performance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 5 
5 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 5 
6 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  5 
Annex  A (normative)  Determination of Denatonium Benzoate in Alcoholic Products by HPLC -UV
 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  6 
A.1 Principles  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 6 
A.2 Instrumentation and materials  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 6 
A.3 Reagents and solutions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  7 
A.4 Standard solutions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  7 
A.5 Chromatographic and calibration parameters  ................................ ................................ ..........  8 
A.6 Calibration  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 8 
A.7 Analysis of samples  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  8 
A.8 Instrument Results:  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  9 
Annex  B (normative)  Test of safety in the use of the ethanol gel  ................................ .....................  10 
B.1 Test apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  10 
B.2 Ethanol gel test  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  10 
B.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 10 
B.4 Combustion performance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  11 
Annex  C (normative)  Sampling and compliance with this standard  ................................ ...................  1 
C.1 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 1 
C.2 Compliance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 2 
 DRS 574: 2024  
©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved                  iv 
 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards adopted 
by Technical committ ees are ratified  by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 574 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 024, Organic and Inorganic chemicals  
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard s: 
SANS 448 , Ethanol gel for cooking and other gel burning appliances  
ZS 1238, Ethanol gel for cooking and other gel burning appliances  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Organic and Inorganic chemicals  
(RSB/TC 024) in the preparation of this standard.  
University of Rwanda/College of Science and Technology (UR/CST)  
HORIZON /SOPYRWA  
National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA)  
Rwanda Forensic Laboratory (RFL)  
Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer protection Authority (RICA)  
University of Rwanda -College of Education (UR -CE) 
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  
  DRS 574: 2024  
v                ©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved  
  DRS 574: 2024  
1                ©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved  
 Ethanol gel for cooking and other burning appliances  — Specification  
1 Scope   
This Draft Rwanda Standard specifies  the requirements , sampling and test methods  for ethanol gel for cooking 
and for other burning appliances.  
2 Normative references   
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of  their content constitutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated references, only the edition  cited applies. For undated references, the 
latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
RS ISO 3170,  Petroleum liquids – Manual sampling . 
RS ISO 3165 , Sampling of chemical product for industrial use – Safety in sampling . 
ISO 10101 -2, Natural gas - Determination of water by the Karl Fischer method - Part 2: Titration procedure.  
ISO 1388 -2, Ethanol for industrial use – Methods of test – Part 2: Detection of alkalinity or acidity to 
phenolphthalein . 
ASTM D4815, Test Method for Determination of MTBE, ETBE, TAME, DIPE, tertiary -Amyl Alcohol and C1 to 
C4 Alcohols in Gasoline by Gas Chromatography published by ASTM International . 
ASTM D6045 – 20, Standard Test Method for Colour of Petroleum Products by the Automatic Tristimulus 
Method, published by ASTM International . 
ASTM D5501 – 20, Standard Test Method for Determination of Ethanol and Methanol Content in Fuels 
Containing Greater than 20 % Ethanol by Gas Chromatography . 
ASTM D 4052  – 22, Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital 
Density Meter . 
ASTM D7795  – 15, Standard Test Method for Acidity in Ethanol and Ethanol Blends by Titration . 
ASTM D7319 , Standard Test Method for Determination of Existent and Potential Sulfate and Inorganic Chloride 
in Fuel Ethanol and Butanol by Direct Injection Suppressed Ion Chromatography . 
RS ISO 1 253, Determination of flash point – Closed cup equilibrium method  
RS ISO 3104, Petroleum products – Transparent and opaque liquids – Determination of kinematic viscosity and 
calculation of dynamic viscosity.   
©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved                  2 
 ISO 1928 , Coal and coke – Determination of gross calorific value  
RS ISO 3219, Plastics – Polymers/resins in the liquid state or as emulsions or dispersions – Determination of 
viscosity using a rotational viscometer with defined shear rate.  
RS ISO 3837, Liquid petroleum products – Determination of hydrocarbon types – Fluorescent indicator 
adsorption method.  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the follow ing terms and definitions apply . 
3.1 
acceptable  
acceptable to the authority administering this standard or to the parties concluding the contract, as relevant.  
3.2 
higher alcohols  
n - aliphatic alcohols of general formula CnH 2n+1OH with n being 3 to 8 . 
3.3 
hydrocarbons  
n - components in an ethanol -hydrocarbon blend containing only hydrogen and carbon . 
3.4 
denatured ethanol  
n—ethanol made unfit for beverage use by the addition of toxic or noxious materials.  
3.5 
gel 
semi -solid that can have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough . 
3.6 
burning appliances  
device that is installed in a building and burns fossil -fuel or carbon -based fuel where carbon monoxide is a 
combustion by -product, including stoves, ovens, grills, clothes dryers, furnaces, boilers, water heaters, heaters, 
fireplaces and stoves.  DRS 574: 2024  
3                ©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved  
 3.6 
cooking appliances  
appliance intended to be used for the preparation of food and that makes use of a heat source . 
4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
4.1.1   The product shall be visually free of sediment and suspended matter.  
4.1.2   The product shall be free of any adulterant or contaminant that can render the material unacceptable 
for its commonly used applications.  
4.1.3   The product shall be colored to visually indicate that it is not potable.  
4.1.4 The ethanol content of the gel (expressed as 100 % ethanol) shall be not less than a mass fraction of 
90 % as indicated in the product Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).  
4.1.5  Additives beyond the denaturants and colorants are discouraged.  
4.1.6  When determined in accordance with the test methods given in RS ISO 1253, the flashpoint of the 
ethanol gel shall be not less than 23 °C.  
4.1.7  aromatic content of not more than a mass fraction of 2.0 % when determined in accordance with the 
test method given in ISO 3837  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved                  4 
 4.2 Specific requirements  
The product shall comply with the requirements given in Table 1 when tested in accordance with  test methods 
specified therein.  
Table 1 — Specific requirements for ethanol gel for cooking  
S/N Parameters  Requirements  Test method  
i. i Ethanol content, % v/v, min.  90 D5501 -20 
ii. i
i Water , % v/v,  max.  8 ISO 10101 -2 
iii. i
i
i pH 6.5 – 7.5 pH meter  
iv.  Calorific value, MJ/kg, min.  18 ISO 1928  
v. i
v Density g/ml, at 20 ºC, max.  0.81797  ASTM D 4052  
vi. v Colored Dye, mg/Kg, Max  10 ASTM D6045  
vii. v
i Higher Alcohol (C3 – C8), % v/v, 
Max.  2 ASTM D4815  
viii. v
i
i
i Acidity (as acetic acid), mg/kg  max.  40 ASTM D7795  
ix. i
x Denatonium Benzoate , mg/kg, (Min 
– Max)  10 - 20 Annex A 
x. x Methanol, % v/v, max.  0.5 ASTM D5501  
xi. x
i
i Dynamic viscosity at 25oC, cP, 3 
rpm 25000  RS ISO 3104  
xii.  Residue on evaporation, %, m/v, 
max 0.01 ASTM D1353  
xiii. x
i
i
i Inorganic  chloride, mg/l, max.  10.0 ASTM D7319  
4.3 Safety in use of the gel  
When tested in accordance with the test given in Annex B, the ethanol gel shall ignite readily and shall burn 
steadily, without flaring, sudden deflagrations, sparking, spitting, popping, dripping or explosion, from ignition 
until it has burned to extinction.  DRS 574: 2024  
5                ©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved  
 4.4 Performance  
When the ethanol gel fuel is tested in accordance with Annex B, it shall heat 1 L water from 25 °C to 90 °C in 
not more than 15 min.  
5 Pack aging 
5.1 Ethanol gel for cooking shall be packaged in safe and suitable containers that shall not impart foreign 
substances and/or odours to the product.  
5.2 Bulk delivery, packaging and storage of ethanol gel shall be done in containers that shall prevent 
contamination of the product.  
6 Labelling  
Each container shall bear the following information given in prominent, legible and durable labelling:  
a) name of the product  ‘Ethanol gel’ ;  
b) name and address of manufacturer;  
c)  net contents;  
d) list of ingredients  
e) batch/lot number;  
f) minimum ethyl alcohol content;  
g)  year of manufacture;  
h) country of origin;  
i) instruction of use ; 
j) pictograms;  
k)  the words “highly poisonous”; and  
l)  the words “highly flammable”.   
©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved                  6 
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Determination of Denatonium Benzoate in Alcoholic Products by HPLC -
UV 
A.1 Principles  
This document describes a standard method for the determination of denatonium benzoate (DB) in CDA 
(completely denatured alcohol) formulations using HPLC with UV detection at 210 nm. The samples are directly 
injected into the HPLC system after membrane fil tration. The working range for quantitative determination of DB 
is 0.5 to 20.0 mg / L.  
A.2 Instrumentation and materials  
A.2.1  HPLC system equipped with:  
i) Pumping system suitable for isocratic elution.  
ii) Solvent degassing system (on -line/off -line).  
iii) Injection system with 20 µl loop.  
iv) Analytical column, for example: LiChrospher 100 CN (5 µm) in LiChroCART 250 -4 guard column  
v) Thermostated column compartment (oven).  
vi)  Diode array detector (DAD) or UV detector.  
vii) Integrator or computer with data acquisition software and printer.  
A.2.2  Analytical balance  
A.2.3  pipettes of 0.5, 2, 5, 10 and 20 ml  
A.2.4  volumetric flasks of 100 and 1000 ml  
A.2.5  Weighing bottle.  
 A.2.6  Syringes.  
A.2.7  cellulose membrane filters of 0.45 µm  DRS 574: 2024  
7                ©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved  
  A.2.8 beaker  of 250 ml  
A.2.9  graduated cylinder of 1000 ml  
With regard to the HPLC column, the recommended analytical column in this method is LiChrospher 100 CN (5 
µm) as described above. However, alternative HPLC columns (C18 / C8), buffers and chromatographic 
parameters may be used provided that good peak shape  is obtained for denatonium benzoate and good 
separation of denatonium benzoate from potential interferences can be achieved.  
A.3 Reagents and solutions  
A.3.1  Denatonium benzoate, purity ≥ 99 %. Handle it with gloves.  
A.3.2  Ethanol 96 % vol.  
A.3.3  Sodium chloride, extrapure.  
A.3.4  Acetonitrile, HPLC grade.  
A.3.5  Water, HPLC grade.  
A.3.6  0.2 % sodium chloride solution.  
Weigh 0.4 g of sodium chloride in a weighing bottle and dissolve it in a beaker with 200 ml of water HPLC grade.  
A.3.7  Mobile phase Add in a 1000 ml volumetric flask, 200 ml of 0.2 % sodium chloride solution and 800 ml 
of acetonitrile HPLC grade.  
A.4 Standard solutions  
A.4.1 Preparation of the stock solution (100 mg DB / L).  
Weigh, recording the exact weight, 0.1 g of denatonium benzoate in a weighing bottle and dissolve it in a 
1000 ml volumetric flask with ethanol 96 % vol. Mix gently.  
Measure the mass of this solution with a top loading balance and the density at 20ºC with an electronic 
densimeter.  
 A.4.2 Preparation of the working calibration solutions.  
Add, in 100 ml volumetric flasks, 20 ml of ethanol 96 % vol. (to minimize weighing errors), then 0.5, 2, 5, 
10 or 20 ml (weighing) of the stock solution and top up to the filling mark with ethanol 96 % vol. Mix gently.   
©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved                  8 
 A.5 Chromatographic and calibration parameters  
When using LiChrospher 100 CN (5 µm) column, chromatographic and calibration parameters 
recommended are:  
i) Column flow: 1.2 ml / min.  
ii) Stoptime: 14 min.  
iii) Detector: signal 210 nm (bandwidth 8 nm), reference 360 nm (bandwidth 100 nm).  
iv) Mobile phase: acetonitrile 80:20 0.2 % sodium chloride solution.  
v) Injection volume: 20 µl.  
vi) Column oven temperature: 27ºC.  
vii) Calibration: external standard.  
viii)  Signal: peak area.  
ix) Curve type: linear.  
x) Origin: included.  
xi) Weight: equal.  
 
A.6 Calibration  
Working solutions containing the following concentrations of denatonium benzoate 0.5, 2, 5, 10 and 20 mg / l 
are analysed by injecting one replicate of each working solution. Peak areas corresponding to denatonium 
benzoate are plotted according to the resp ective concentrations in order to obtain a linear regression line 
expressed by the formula y = ax + b. The correlation coefficient must be > 0.99. Otherwise, the system must be 
checked to improve the linear regression if possible, or the working solutions must be discarded and a new set 
of calibration solutions should be prepared.  
A.7 Analysis of samples  
No specific sample preparation is required. The samples are directly injected into the HPLC system after 0.45 
µm cellulose membrane filtration.  
 DRS 574: 2024  
9                ©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved  
 A.8 Instrument Results:  
The instrument denatonium benzoate results are calculated by comparing the sample denatonium peak area 
response to the calibration curve for the denatonium benzoate. This calibration curve is part of the instrument 
method.  
 
 
 
 
 
  
©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved                  10 
 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Test of safety in the use of the ethanol gel  
B.1 Test apparatus  
B.1.1 Laboratory fume cupboard  operated at the minimum extraction rate necessary to just safely 
evacuate the products of combustion produced by the burning ethanol gel.  
B.1.2 Fireproof bowl  with dimensions of approximately 125 mm in diameter and 35 mm in depth.  
B.1.3 Ignition source,  gas-based.  
B.1.4  Calibrated balance.  
B.1.5 Stopwatch , calibrated in seconds.  
NOTE In the interest of safety it is recommended that the hands and face of the tester be adequately protected at all times 
when undertaking this test.  
B.2 Ethanol gel test  
Use the ethanol gel sampled in accordance with the sampling procedure given in annex C. 
B.3 Procedure  
B.3.1 Switch on the extractor fan of the cupboard and operate at the minimum extraction rate necessary to 
just safely evacuate the products of combustion produced by the burning ethanol gel.  
B.3.2 Fill the aluminium bowl with 50 g of the ethanol gel. Place it on an isolating pad inside the fume 
cupboard and ignite immediately.  
B.3.3 Observe the ethanol gel on ignition and immediately thereafter and record any signs of flaring, sudden 
deflagrations, sparkling, spitting, popping, dripping or explosion.  
 
 
 DRS 574: 2024  
11                ©RSB 2024  - All rights reserved  
 B.4 Combustion performance  
B.4.1  Test apparatus  
B.4.1.1 Test appliance , a tripod with a height of 7 cm between the top of the pot seat and the top surface of 
the gel container.  
B.4.1.2  Laboratory fume cupboard   
B.4.1.3  Fireproof bowl   
B.4.1.4  Ignition source   
B.4.1.5  Calibrated balance   
B.4.1.6  Stopwatch   
B.4.1.7  Aluminium pot , flat-bottomed 2 L aluminium pot of 220 mm diameter fitted with a thermocouple port.  
B.4.1.8 Thermocouple.  
B.4.2  Procedure  
B.4.2.1  Ensure that the ambient air temperature of the laboratory is maintained at 20 °C ± 5 °C.  
B.4.2.2  Switch on the extractor fan of the cupboard and operate at the minimum extraction rate necessary to 
just safely evacuate the products of combustion produced by the burning ethanol gel.  
B.4.2.3  Pour 1 L of tap water into the aluminium cooking pot.  
B.4.2.4  Fill the fireproof bowl with 200 g of the ethanol gel. Ignite the fire with the gas lighter.  
B.4.2.5  Place the aluminium pot with water onto the fire. Record the time taken for the water temperature to 
rise from 25 °C to 90 °C.  DRS 574: 2024  
 
Price based on  nnn pages  
©RSB 2024  - All right s reserved   
 Annex  C 
(normative)  
 
Sampling and compliance with this standard  
C.1 Sampling  
C.1.1 General  
The sampling procedure given in  C.1.3 shall be applied in determining whether a lot complies with the relevant 
requirements of this standard. The samples so drawn shall be deemed to represent the lot.  
C.1.2 Definitions  
C.1.2.1  
defective  
test sample of the ethanol gel that fails in one or more respects to comply with the relevant requirements of this 
standard  
C.1.2.2  
lot 
that quantity of ethanol gel in containers bearing the same trade name or trademark, grade designation and 
batch identification, from one manufacturer, and submitted at any one time for inspection and testing  
C.1.3 Samples for inspection and testing  
After checking the lot for compliance with the relevant requirements of 5 and 6 , take from it at random.  
a) five containers, if the lot is packed in containers of net mass not exceeding 5 kg; and   
 b) three containers, if the lot is packed in containers of net mass exceeding 5 kg.  
C.2 Compliance  
Deem the lot to comply with the relevant requirements of this standard if, on inspection of the containers or 
tankers in the lot, and on testing of the samples taken in accordance with  Annex  C.1.3, no defective is found.