Survey of Trace Metals in Distillate Fuels

The amounts of trace metals in distillate fuels are receiving increased attention, especially those of metals that cause corrosion of gas turbine blades.

Published information on the levels of trace metals in distillate fuels is scarce, so members of Section D02.E on Burner, Diesel, and Gas Turbine Fuel Oils of ASTM Committee D-2 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants agreed to pool information available in individual laboratories. Twelve laboratories furnished data on 408 samples of kerosines, diesel fuels, burner fuels, aviation turbine fuels, and gas turbine fuels. Data on trace metals content included that of sodium, potassium, vanadium, calcium, lead, magnesium, and copper. Some laboratories did not report data on all metals.

This survey to pool information available on the amounts of trace metals in random samples of distillate fuels does not lend itself to statistical treatment of the data. However, it does show that the level of trace metals in currently produced distillate fuels is much lower than the amounts presently allowed in ASTM Specification for Gas Turbine Oils (D 2880-71).