Local round robin test for determination of aromatics in diesel fuels by HPLC

Determination of aromatics in diesel fuels by HPLC is covered by European Standard EN 12916 (April 2000). The Standard is based on former standards IP 391/90 and IP 391/95. The method used for measurements is NP HPLC and separation is performed on silica or modified silica columns with RI detection. The precision of the method was checked by determining the repeatability and reproducibility. The content of aromatics was measured in a number of commercial samples. The measurements have been performed in three different laboratories and under different working and instrumental conditions. Satisfactory agreement was established for repeatability and was slightly poorer for reproducibility. The content of polyaromatics is within the tolerance range (IP 590/99) and the content of tricyclic and higher aromatics (tri+) is close to the limit of quantitition in some samples. Clear differences in the content of polycyclic aromatics in domestic diesel and eurodiesel fuels were observed. The results have confirmed the ruggedness and robustness of the measuring method.