High-purity ethylene is required as a feedstock for some manufacturing processes and the presence of trace amounts of certain hydrocarbon impurities can have deleterious effects. This test method is suitable for setting specifications, for use as an internal quality control tool, and for use in development or research work.

This test method does not detect such impurities as H₂O, CO, CO₂, and alcohols that may be present in the sample. Hydrocarbons higher than n-decane cannot be analyzed by this test method, if present in the sample. Test Method D 2504 addresses the analysis of noncondensable gases and Test Method D 2505 addresses the analysis of CO₂. Guide D 5234 describes all potential impurities present in ethylene. These standards should be consulted when determining the total concentration of impurities in ethylene.

1.1 This test method is used for the determination of methane, ethane, propane, propene, acetylene, iso-butane, propadiene, butane, trans-2-butene, butene-1, isobutene, cis-2-butene, methyl acetylene and 1,3-butadiene in high-purity ethylene. The purity of the ethylene can be calculated by subtracting the total percentage of all impurities from 100.00 %. Since this test method does not determine all possible impurities such as CO, CO₂, H₂O, alcohols, nitrogen oxides, and carbonyl sulfide, as well as hydrocarbons higher than decane, additional tests may be necessary to fully characterize the ethylene sample.

1.2 Data are reported in this test method as ppmV (parts per million by volume). This test method was evaluated in an interlaboratory cooperative study in the concentration range of 4 to 340 ppmV (2 to 204 mg/kg). The participants in the interlaboratory cooperative study reported the data in non-SI units. Wherever possible, SI units are included.

1.3 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.