This test method covers the determination of total nitrogen (organic and inorganic) in aromatic hydrocarbons, their derivitives and related chemicals.

Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee D16 on Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Related Chemicals, this test method was withdrawn in January 2015 in accordance with section 10.6.3 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.

This method has been prepared to detect and quantitate nitrogen-containing compounds such as N-formylmorpholine (4-formylmorpholine, Chemical Abstract Service numbers (CAS) No. 250-37-6) or 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) (CAS) No. 872-50-42 at a concentration of 1.0 mgN/kg or less in aromatic hydrocarbons used or produced in manufacturing processes. These nitrogen-containing compounds are undesirable in the finished aromatic products and may be the result of the aromatic extraction process. This test method may be used in setting specifications for determining the total nitrogen content in aromatic hydrocarbons.

Note 1—Virtually all organic and inorganic nitrogen compounds will be detected by this technique.

This technique will not detect diatomic nitrogen and it will produce an attenuated response when analyzing compounds (that is, s-triazine and azo compounds, etc.) that form nitrogen gas (N₂) when decomposed.

This test method requires the use of reduced pressure at the detector. Loss of vacuum or pressure fluctuations impact the sensitivity of the detector and the ability to determine nitrogen concentrations less than 1 mg/kg.

1.1 This test method covers the determination of total nitrogen (organic and inorganic) in aromatic hydrocarbons, their derivatives and related chemicals.

1.2 This test method is applicable for samples containing nitrogen from 0.2 to 2 mgN/kg. For higher nitrogen concentrations refer to Test Method D 4629.

1.2.1 The detector response of this technique within the specified scope of this test method is linear with nitrogen concentration.

1.3 The following applies to all specified limits in this test method: for purposes of determining conformance with this test method, an observed value or a calculated value shall be rounded off "to the nearest unit" in the last right-hand digit used in expressing the specification limit, in accordance with the rounding-off method of Practice E 29.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 9.