Upgrade of ASTM D4807 apparatus
Upgrade of Tamson ASTM D4807 apparatus
Several years ago, Tamson introduced a turn-key apparatus for ASTM D4807. This test method covers the determination of sediment in crude oils by membrane filtration and the test method has been validated for crude oils with sediments up to approximately 0.15 mass %. A TC16 circulator pumps the bath content through the jacketed (double wall) funnel to maintain the crude oil sample at 90°C. The main advantage of the Tamson apparatus is that we are using a jacketed funnel which guarantees good visibility and safe operation of the test. This is not the case when using wound copper tubing
around a single wall funnel, as supplied by other manufacturers. The necessary filter support, clamp, rubber stopper, 1000 mL vacuum filtering flask, glass T-piece with ground wire, insulated tubing with connectors, stand rod with clamps, box with 100 membrane filters, vacuum tubing, and a vacuum pump are standard included in part numbers 00T2010 and 00T2011. Please visit https://tamsoninstruments.com/media/pdf/d4807.pdf to download the
D4807 specification sheet for further information.
From January 1st 2020, Tamson will add another feature to further increase safe around-the-clock operation of this test. The TC16 will be standard equipped with a levelling platform and a cover with rings. This can be used to place a beaker inside the TC16 to preheat a portion of toluene to 90°C. The hot toluene is needed to completely filter the last portion of the sample by washing the jacketed funnel and filter until no crude oil is visible on the filter.
The new features enable the rim of the beaker filled with toluene to be kept above the bath fluid level ensuring that the beaker will not move across the TC16. A stand rod with clamp can additionally be used to overcome the buoyancy of the beaker. The use of the TC16 to preheat the toluene is a safer way as the mechanical safety thermostat of the TC16 can be set slightly above the setpoint of the circulator. Because of the safety thermostat, the Tamson D4807 apparatus is much safer compared to using a hot plate to preheat the toluene. For safety reasons, the D4807 apparatus should be placed in a fume hood.
