Designation: D8681 − 26Standard Test Method forAnalysis of Methanol by Gas Chromatography (ExternalStandard) 1This standard is issued under the f i xed designation D8681; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This test method covers the determination of organicimpurities in commercial methanol and uses those values todetermine the purity of methanol (methanol in dry basis) by gaschromatography.1.2 This test method is applicable to the measurement ofmethyl formate, ethanol, acetone, isopropanol, methyl acetate,n-propanol, butanone, 2-butanol, isobutanol(2-methyl-1-propanol), n-butanol, 2-pentanone, 3-pentanone, MTBE,benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes in methanol. Thelimit of detection (LOD) is 1.1 mg⁄kg, 1.4 mg⁄kg, 2.0 mg⁄kg,0.6 mg⁄kg for ethanol, acetone, methyl acetate and benzene inmethanol, respectively.N OTE 1—LOD was calculated using data from ASTM Research ReportRR:D16-2008. 21.3 In determining the conformance of the test results usingthis method to applicable specif i cation, results shall be roundedoff in accordance with the rounding-off method of PracticeE29.1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard. No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-ization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards, Guides and Recom-mendations issued by the World Trade Organization TechnicalBarriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards: 3D4307 Practice for Preparation of Liquid Blends for Use asAnalytical StandardsD6809 Guide for Quality Control and Quality AssuranceProcedures for Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Related Ma-terialsE29 Practice for Using Signif i cant Digits in Test Data toDetermine Conformance with Specif i cationsE300 Practice for Sampling Industrial ChemicalsE355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Relation-shipsE691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test MethodE1510 Practice for Installing Fused Silica Open TubularCapillary Columns in Gas ChromatographsE1547 Terminology Relating to Industrial and SpecialtyChemicals2.2 Other Standards:OSHA Regulations, 29 CFR 1910.1000 Air Contaminants 4OSHA Regulations, 29 CFR 1910.1200 Hazard Communi-cation 43. Terminology3.1 See Terminology E1547 for def i nitions of terms used inthis test method.4. Summary of Test Method4.1 Methanol is analyzed using a gas chromatograph (GC)equipped with a f l ame ionization detector (FID). A preciselyrepeatable volume of the sample to be analyzed is injected ontothe gas chromatograph. The peak areas of the impurities aremeasured and converted to concentrations via an externalstandard methodology. The methanol purity (methanol on drybasis) is calculated by subtracting the sum of the impurities1 This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D16 onAromatic, Industrial, Specialty and Related Chemicals and is the direct responsi-bility of Subcommittee D16.14 on Alcohols & Glycols.Current edition approved July 1, 2026. Published August 2026. DOI: 10.1520/D8681-26.2 Supporting data have been f i led at ASTM International Headquarters and maybe obtained by requesting Research Report RR:D16-2008. ContactASTM CustomerService at www.astm.org/contact.3 For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at www.astm.org/contact. For Annual Book ofASTM Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summarypage on the ASTM website.4 Available from U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), 732 N. Capitol St.,NW, Washington, DC 20401, http://www.gpo.gov.Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United StatesThis international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.1
