Fuel Standard (Ethanol E85) Determination 20121
Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000
I, Don Farrell, Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, make the following determination under section 21 of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000.
Dated 16th August                     2012
Don Farrell
Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water
1              Name of determination
                This determination is the Fuel Standard (Ethanol E85) Determination 2012.
2              Commencement
                This determination commences on 1 November 2012.
3              Definitions
                In this determination:
ASTM followed by an alphanumeric code means the testing method developed under that alphanumeric code by the standards development organisation called ASTM International.
CEN/TS followed by a number means the testing method developed under that code and number by the standards development organisation called the European Committee for Standardization.
E85 means a fuel blend consisting of:
                (a)    70–85% ethanol; and
               (b)    petrol that meets the requirements of the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001.
EN followed by a number means the testing method developed under that code and number by the standards development organisation called the European Committee for Standardization.
4              Fuel standard for E85
                E85 must comply with the specification for the parameters mentioned in the following table.
Item
Parameter
Specification

1
Acidity (as acetic acid)
0.006% m/m maximum

2
Benzene
0.35% v/v maximum

3
Copper
0.10 mg/kg maximum

4
Ethanol
70–85% v/v

5
Ethers (5 or more C atoms)
1.0% v/v maximum

6
Final boiling point (distillation)
210°C maximum

7
Higher alcohols (C3-C8)
2.0% v/v maximum

8
Inorganic chloride
1 mg/kg maximum

9
Lead content
5 mg/L maximum

10
Methanol
0.5% v/v maximum

11
Motor Octane Number
87 minimum

12
Oxidation stability
360 minutes minimum

13
pHe
6.5–9.0

14
Phosphorus
1.3 mg/L maximum

15
Research Octane Number
100 minimum

16
Solvent washed gum
5 mg/100mL maximum

17
Sulfate
4.0 mg/kg maximum

18
Sulfur
70 mg/kg  maximum

19
Vapour Pressure (DVPE)
38–65 kPa at 37.8°C

20
Water
1.0% m/m maximum

5              Testing methods
         (1)   Compliance with the standard for a parameter set out in section 4 is determined by applying the testing method for the parameter in the following table.
Item
Parameter
Testing method

1
Acidity (as acetic acid)
ASTM D1613

2
Benzene
ASTM D5580

3
Copper
EN 15837 (as modified in CEN/TS 15293)

4
Ethanol
ASTM D5501

5
Ethers (5 or more C atoms)
ASTM D4815 (See Note 1)

6
Final boiling point (distillation)
ASTM D86

7
Higher alcohols (C3-C8)
ASTM D4815 (See Note 1)

8
Inorganic chloride
ASTM D7328

9
Lead content
ASTM D3237

10
Methanol
ASTM D5501

11
Motor Octane Number
(See Note 2)

12
Oxidation stability
ASTM D525

13
pHe
ASTM D6423

14
Phosphorus
ASTM D3231

15
Research Octane Number
(See Note 2)

16
Solvent washed gum
ASTM D381

17
Sulfate
ASTM D7319

18
Sulfur
ASTM D5453

19
Vapour Pressure (DVPE)
ASTM D5191

20
Water
ASTM E1064

Note 1   Testing method ASTM D4815–09 has been validated for use in the analysis of oxygenates (ethers (5 or more C atoms) and higher alcohols (C3-C8)) in ethanol/unleaded petrol blended fuels containing 70 to 85% ethanol, providing standards are prepared in 80% ethanol blended with unleaded petrol.
Note 2   Testing methods for Motor Octane Number and Research Octane Number in E85 are not yet available. The minimum targets specified in section 4 are interim targets until a testing method is available. These minimum targets allow for engine calibration.
         (2)   A testing method mentioned in subsection (1) is one that is in force on the day on which this determination commences.
Note
1.       All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See www.comlaw.gov.au.