CRC Report No. E-79-2 

SUMMARY OF THE STUDY OF E85 FUEL

IN THE USA

WINTER 2006-2007

 

May 2007

COORDINATING RESEARCH COUNCIL, INC. 

3650 MANSELL ROAD·SUITE 140·ALPHARETTA, GA 30022
SGS E85 Summary 2007 Winter 

Summary of the Study of E85 Fuel in the USA 

Winter 2006-2007 

Prepared for 

The Coordinating Research Council, Inc. 

Project No. E-79-2 

By 

SGS Germany GmbH 

Am Neuen Rheinhafen 12A 

67346 Speyer 

Germany 

31 May 2007 
SGS E85 Summary 2007 Winter 

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION...................................................................1 

SAMPLING AREAS...............................................................1 

SAMPLING MAP...................................................................2 

FUEL PROPERTIES..............................................................3 

DATA ANALYSIS..................................................................4 

RESULTS............................................................................5 

 TABLES.......................................................................5 

FIGURES.....................................................................7 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT..........................................................9 
SGS E85 Summary 2007 Winter 1 

INTRODUCTION

In the spring of 2006, SGS Germany GmbH conducted a survey of E85 fuels (nominally 

70 to 85 percent denatured ethanol + 30 to 15 percent gasoline or other hydrocarbons) 

in the U.S. A summary of that survey was prepared for the Coordinating Research 

Council (CRC). (“Summary of the Study of E85 Fuel in the USA 2006,” CRC Report No. 

E-79, August 2006.) That survey included summer volatility and intermediate volatility 

fuels, but no winter fuels. 

Therefore, SGS conducted a second survey of E85 fuels in the U.S. in January and 

February 2007 to determine the properties of winter fuels. As in the earlier survey, 

samples were purchased at retail outlets and shipped to SGS laboratories in Germany 

for analysis. 

This summary of the results was prepared for the Coordinating Research Council for use 

in planning vehicle test programs. A complete report, (“Fuel Study of E85 in the USA, 

Winter 2006/2007”), containing individual sample data, as well as results on many other 

properties not contained in this summary, can be purchased from SGS. Contact SGS at 

www.us.sgs.com or at the address shown on the inside title page of this report. 

SAMPLING AREAS

Fifty-five samples of E85 fuel were obtained from retail outlets in the following 15 states: 

 Colorado Minnesota Ohio 

Illinois Missouri South Carolina 

 Indiana Nebraska South Dakota 

 Iowa North Carolina Texas 

 Michigan North Dakota Wisconsin 

 

The complete report available from SGS includes individual sample identification and 

specific sampling location. All but two of the fuels were sampled in January 2007. Two 

were sampled in February. 
Sampling Map

SGS E85 Summary 2007 Winter 2 
SGS E85 Summary 2007 Winter 3 

FUEL PROPERTIES

This summary report contains analytical data on the following properties that, with the 

exception of sulfate content, are controlled by ASTM D 5798, “Specification for Fuel 

Ethanol (Ed75-Ed85) for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines.” 

 Vapor pressure ASTM D 5191 

 Ethanol content ASTM D 6729 mod 

Higher alcohol content ASTM D 5599 

Methanol content ASTM D 5599 

 Sulfur content ASTM D 5453 

 Unwashed gum ASTM D 381 

 Solvent-washed gum ASTM D 381 

 Acidity as acetic acid ASTM D 1613 

 pHe ASTM D 6423 

 Water content ASTM E 1064 

 Total chlorine as chlorides ASTM D 4929/B 

 Inorganic chloride Ion chromatography (SGS inhouse) 

 Sulfate Ion chromatography (SGS inhouse) 

The complete report available from SGS also contains data on many other fuel 

properties. 

Although there is no ASTM limit on the sulfate content of E85, there is a maximum 

sulfate limit of 4 mg/kg in fuel ethanol defined in ASTM D 4806, “Specification for 

Denatured Fuel Ethanol for Blending with Gasolines for Use as Automotive SparkIgnition Engine Fuel.” 

All ASTM standards are available from ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West 

Conshohocken, PA 19428, telephone 610-832-9585, internet www.astm.org. 
SGS E85 Summary 2007 Winter 4 

DATA ANALYSIS

The analytical data were grouped according to the volatility class assignments defined in 

ASTM D 5798. The assignments are based on the sampling location and the month the 

samples were taken. 

ASTM D 5798 defines requirements for Volatility Class 1 (warm ambient temperature), 

Class 2 (intermediate ambient temperature), and Class 3 (cold ambient temperature). 

During transition months, when fuels are changing from one class to another, the fuels 

are permitted to meet the requirements of either of the two classes. For example, when 

the table of volatility class assignments in D 5798 shows “2/3” or “3/2” for a particular 

state and month, the fuels in that location can meet the requirements of either Class 2 or 

Class 3. Thus, the allowable limits for some properties may cover a wider range during 

a transition month than during a month with a single volatility class assignment. 

The volatility class assignments for the fuels in this survey were either Class 2 (three 

fuels) or Class 3 (52 fuels). 

To provide the information needed by the CRC for developing its test programs, this 

summary contains the following statistical data for each of the fuel properties in each 

volatility class assignment: 

 10th percentile 

 Average 

 Median 

 90th percentile 

In addition, the percentage of fuels in each volatility class that failed to meet one or more 

of the requirements of ASTM D 5798 is reported, along with the reasons for failure to 

meet the requirements. 

As specified by the CRC, the 10th and 90th percentiles were determined as follows: 

• Sample size <10: 10th percentile = minimum value, 90th percentile = maximum 

value 

• Sample size >50 and <60: 10th percentile = sixth lowest value, 90th percentile = 

sixth highest value 
SGS E85 Summary 2007 Winter 5 

RESULTS

The data for vapor pressure are shown graphically in Figures 1a and 1b on page 7, 

ethanol + higher alcohol content in Figure 2 on page 8, and sulfur content in Figure 3 on 

page 8. The ASTM D 5798-06 limits for those properties are stated in the figures. 

ASTM D 5798 sets minimum limits for ethanol + higher alcohols, rather than for ethanol 

alone, and those limits are listed in Figure 2. The higher alcohol contents of the fuels in 

this survey did not exceed 0.3 percent. 

Table 1 presents the results for the fuels required to meet Volatility Class 2. Two of the 

three Class 2 fuels (67 percent) did not meet the requirements of ASTM D 5798 due to 

both high vapor pressure and low ethanol content. 

Table 1. Statistical Data for E85 Fuels in Volatility Class 2 

 Volatility Class 2

Property Units Test Method 10th pctl average median 90th pctl

Vapor pressure kPa ASTM D 5191 53.5 65.4 70.7 71.9

Vapor pressure psi ASTM D 5191 7.8 9.5 10.3 10.4

Ethanol vol.% ASTM D 6729 mod 59.3 68.9 67.7 79.3

Higher alcohols vol.% ASTM D 5599 <0.01 0.13 0.11 0.27

Ethanol+higher 

alcohols vol.% 59.6 68.9 67.7 79.4

Methanol vol.% ASTM D 5599 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01

Sulfur mg/kg ASTM D 5453 7 13 14 17

Unwashed gum mg/100 mL ASTM D 381 3.0 5.6 5.8 8.0

Solvent washed gum mg/100 mL ASTM D 381 <1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0

Acidity as acetic acid mg/L ASTM D 1613 <1 3 <1 8

pHe ASTM D 6423 7.4 7.6 7.6 7.7

Water mg/kg ASTM E 1064 4242 4832 4349 5905

Total chlorine mg/kg ASTM D 4929/B 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.4

Inorganic chloride mg/kg Ion Chromatography 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Sulfate mg/kg Ion Chromatography 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7

Number of Samples 3 

Percent of fuels not meeting ASTM D 5798: 67% 

Reasons for not meeting ASTM D 5798: High vapor pressure, 

low ethanol. 

Note: mg/kg = ppm (mass)
SGS E85 Summary 2007 Winter 6 

Table 2 presents the results for the fuels required to meet Volatility Class 3. Two-thirds 

of the fuels failed to meet one or more of the requirements of ASTM D 5798. Fifty-eight 

percent of the fuels did not meet the vapor pressure requirements. One fuel exceeded 

the maximum vapor pressure limit of 83 kPa (12.0 psi), and 29 fuels had vapor 

pressures below the minimum limit of 66 kPa (9.5 psi). 

Fifteen percent of the fuels did not meet the minimum ethanol + higher alcohol 

requirement of 70 volume-percent. Other properties that caused one or more fuels to fail 

D 5798 were high total chlorine, high inorganic chloride, high unwashed gum, and low 

pHe. 

Table 2. Statistical Data for E85 Fuels in Volatility Class 3 

 Volatility Class 3

Property Units Test Method 10th pctl average median 90th pctl

Vapor pressure kPa ASTM D 5191 54.6 64.0 64.5 71.5

Vapor pressure psi ASTM D 5191 7.9 9.3 9.4 10.4

Ethanol vol.% ASTM D 6729 mod 68.8 71.5 70.6 80.9

Higher alcohols vol.% ASTM D 5599 <0.01 0.07 0.07 0.14

Ethanol+higher 

alcohols vol.% 68.9 71.6 70.7 81.1

Methanol vol.% ASTM D 5599 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 0.02

Sulfur mg/kg ASTM D 5453 6 12 12 20

Unwashed gum mg/100 mL ASTM D 381 2.0 8.3 5.7 9.2

Solvent washed gum mg/100 mL ASTM D 381 <1.0 0.8 1.0 1.6

Acidity as acetic acid mg/L ASTM D 1613 2 8 5 16

pHe ASTM D 6423 7.2 7.5 7.6 7.8

Water mg/kg ASTM E 1064 4495 5327 5318 6338

Total chlorine mg/kg ASTM D 4929/B <0.2 0.4 0.3 0.8

Inorganic chloride mg/kg Ion Chromatography <0.1 0.3 0.2 0.3

Sulfate mg/kg Ion Chromatography 0.6 0.8 0.7 1.0

Number of Samples 52 

Percent of fuels not meeting ASTM D 5798: 67% 

Reasons for not meeting ASTM D 5798: Low or high vapor 

pressure, low ethanol, high total chlorine, high inorganic 

chloride, high unwashed gum, low pHe. 

Note: mg/kg = ppm (mass)
Figure 1a. Vapor Pressure (kPa) of E85 Fuels

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Class 2 (3 fuels) Class 3 (52 fuels)

ASTM D 5798 Volatility Class

Vapor Pressure, kPa

10th pctl

Average

Median

90th pctl

ASTM Limits = 48-65 kPa ASTM Limits = 66-83 kPa

Figure 1b. Vapor Pressure (psi) of E85 Fuels

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Class 2 (3 fuels) Class 3 (52 fuels)

ASTM D 5798 Volatility Class

Vapor Pressure, psi

10th pctl

Average

Median

90th pctl

ASTM Limits = 7.0-9.5 psi ASTM Limits = 9.5-12.0 psi

SGS E85 Summary 2007 Winter 7 
Figure 2. Ethanol + Higher Alcohol Content of E85 Fuels

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Class 2 (3 fuels) Class 3 (52 fuels)

ASTM D 5798 Volatility Class

Ethanol + higher alcohols, vol.%

10th pctl

Average

Median

90th pctl

ASTM minimum limit = 74% ASTM minimum limit = 70%

Note: ASTM limits apply to ethanol+higher alcohols. Higher alcohols did not exceed 0.3% in this survey.

Figure 3. Sulfur Content of E85 Fuels

0

5

10

15

20

25

Class 2 (3 fuels) Class 3 (52 fuels)

ASTM D 5798 Volatility Class

Sulfur, mg/kg

10th pctl

Average

Median

90th pctl

ASTM maximum limit = 260 mg/kg ASTM maximum limit = 300 mg/kg

SGS E85 Summary 2007 Winter 8 
SGS E85 Summary 2007 Winter 9 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This project was conducted for the CRC Emissions Committee.