EN 590 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization that describes the physical and chemical properties that all automotive diesel fuel must meet if it is to be sold in the European Union and several other European countries.

Based on 98/70/EG it allows the blending of up to 7% fatty acid methyl ester biodiesel with 'conventional' diesel - a 7:93 mix.

History The EN 590 had been introduced along with the European emission standards. With each of its revisions the EN 590 had been adapted to lower the sulphur content of diesel fuel – since 2007 this is called ultra-low-sulphur diesel as the former function of sulphur as a lubricant is absent (and needs to be replaced by additives).

emission standard at latest sulphur content cetane number Euro 1 1 January 1993 max. 0.200% min. 49 Euro 2 1 January 1996 max. 0.050% min. 49 Euro 3 1 January 2001 max. 0.035% min. 51 Euro 4 1 January 2006 max. 0.005% min. 51 Euro 5 1 January 2009 max. 0.001% min. 51 Euro 6 1 January 2014

Generally applicable requirements and test methods PropertyUnitlower limitupper limitTest-Method Cetane index 46.0 - EN ISO 4264 Cetane number 51.0 - EN ISO 5165 Density at 15°C kg/m³ 820 845 EN ISO 3675, EN ISO 12185 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons %(m/m) - 11 EN ISO 12916 Sulphur content mg/kg - 350 (until 2004-12-31) or 50.0 EN ISO 20846, EN ISO 20847, EN ISO 20884 10.0 (on the 01-01-2009)EN ISO 20846, EN ISO 20884 Flash point °C Above 55 - EN ISO 2719 Carbon residue (on 10% distillation residue)%m/m - 0.30 EN ISO 10370 Ash content % (m/m) - 0.01 EN ISO 6245 Water content mg/kg - 200 EN ISO 12937 Total contamination mg/kg - 24 EN ISO 12662 Copper strip corrosion (3 hours at 50 °C) rating Class 1 Class 1 EN ISO 2160 Oxidation Stability g/m3 - 25 EN ISO 12205 Lubricity, corrected wear scar diameter (wsd 1.4) at 60 °C μm - 460 EN ISO 12156-1 Viscosity at 40 °C mm2/s 2.00 4.50 EN ISO 3104, ISO 23581 Distillation recovered at 250 °C, 350 °C %V/V 85 <65 EN ISO 3405 95%(V/V) recovered at °C - 360 Fatty acid methyl ester content % (V/V) - 7 EN 14078

GOST R 32511-2013 PropertyUnitValue Cetane index 46.0 Cetane number 51.0 Density at 15°C kg/m³ 820-845 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons %(m/m) 8.0 Sulphur content - type K3 mg/kg 350 Sulphur content - type K4 mg/kg 50 Sulphur content - type K5 mg/kg 10 Flash point °C 55 Carbon residue (on 10% distillation residue)%m/m 0.30 Ash content % (m/m) 0.01 Water content mg/kg 200 Total contamination mg/kg 24 Copper strip corrosion (3 hours at 50 °C) rating Class 1 Stability no more than g/m3 25 Lubricity, corrected wear scar diameter (wsd 1,4) at 60 °C μm 460 Viscosity at 40 °C mm2/s 2.00-4.50 Distillation recovered at 250 °C, 350 °C %V/V 65.85 95%(V/V) recovered at °C 360 Fatty acid methyl ester content no more than% (V/V) 7.0

Winter Diesel The standard EN 590 puts diesel fuel into two groups destined for specific climatic environments. For the "temperate" climatic zones the standard defines six classes from A to F. For the "arctic" climatic zones the standard defines five classes from 0 to 4. Petroleum Refining: Crude oil, petroleum products, process flowsheets von Jean-Pierre Wauquier, pages 215 and 216

+ temperate climatic zones Characteristics Class A Class B Class C Class D Class E Class F Units CFPP +5 0 -5 -10 -15 -20 °C Density at 15 °C 820 - 860 820 - 860 820 - 860 820 - 860 820 - 860 820 - 860 kg/m³ Viscosity at 40 °C 2 - 4.5 2 - 4.5 2 - 4.5 2 - 4.5 2 - 4.5 2 - 4.5mm²/s Cetane index 46 46 46 46 46 46 Cetane number 49 49 49 49 49 49

+ arctic climatic zones Characteristics Class 0 Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Unit CFPP -20 -26 -32 -38 -44 °C Cloud point -10 -16 -22 -28 -34 °C Density at 15 °C 800 - 845 800 - 845 800 - 845 800 - 840 800 - 840 kg/m³ Viscosity at 40 °C 1.5 - 4.0 1.5 - 4.0 1.5 - 4.0 1.4 - 4.0 1.2 - 4.0 mm²/s Cetane index 46 46 45 43 43 Cetane number 47 47 46 45 45

Many countries in Europe require diesel fuel to meet a specific class in winter times. In Central and Western Europe the Winter Diesel (Winterdiesel, diesel d'hiver) must meet Class F conditions at least from the beginning of December to the end of February. During a transitional period (mostly October and April) a lower Class must be met. In the Scandinavian countries the Winter Diesel (Vinterdiesel) must meet Class 2 conditions. Some mineral groups offer both types commonly known as Winter Diesel (Winterdiesel, diesel d'hiver) and Arctic Diesel (Polardiesel, diesel polaires).

See also EN 14214 European emission standards Hydrogenated vegetable oil Ultra-low-sulfur diesel EN 15940 paraffinic diesel fuel standard

References

External links Standard . First Texas Energy Corporation National D2 Diesel