ASTM D86 distillation curve: Experimental analysis and premises for literature modeling

Abstract

The D86 distillation curve is a basic test for the characterization of light petroleum fractions, and its qualitative and quantitative importance is fundamental to distillation projects. In the literature, some studies highlight many of the test flaws, emphasizing experimental and theoretical problems that directly influence the obtained curve. The present work carried out scanning of some modifications proposed in the literature and individually evaluated the effect of each of them on the experimental distillation curves of mixtures in naphtha-like distillation temperature ranges. Besides, the changes were also mathematically tested using the more comprehensive modeling proposed in the literature. The results showed that some experimental modifications are significant, as the position of the thermometer and some issues are not yet adequately addressed in the modeling, as the calculation of the heat transfer with the external environment and the evaluation of the initial and final boiling points. In contrast, the experimental use of thermal insulation did not lead to a significant difference in the obtained curves, so some modifications did not show substantial impacts in the ASTM D86 test.