In May, 2022, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) published the Third Revision of Indian Standard (IS) 537 Toluene – Specification (hereinafter referred to as the Standard). The deadline for comments is July 31, 2022.
The Standard prescribes the requirements, methods of sampling and testing for toluene.
In addition, the Standard also covers the requirements of reagent grade toluene, therefore, the standard for reagent grade toluene IS 1839 : 1961 ‘Toluene, reagent grade’ was withdrawn.
The requirements for toluene are listed in the table below.
Table 1: Requirements for Toluene
SI No. | Characteristics | Requirements | Methods of Test, Ref to Annex/ IS/ Parts of IS 1448 |
i) | Toluene, percent by mass, Min | 99.8 | D |
ii) | Appearance | Clear liquid free of sediment and haze when observed at 18.3 to 25.6°C | - |
iii) | Colour, platinum-cobalt scale, Max | 20 | IS 8768 |
iv) | Relative density at 15.56/15.56°C or Density, 20°C, g/ml | 0.869-0.873
0.865-0.870 | A/(Part 167)1) |
v) | Total sulphur, mg/kg, Max | 2) | B/(Part 160)1) /(Part 161) |
vi) | Distillation Range (1 to 96 percent volume) including the temperature 110.6°C at 101.3 kPa (760 mm of Hg pressure)3), °C, Max | 0.6 | C |
vii) | Non-aromatic hydrocarbons，percent by mass, Max | 0.15 | D |
viii) | Benzene content, mg/kg, Max | 500 | D |
ix) | Water content, mg/kg, Max | 500 | (Part 175)/(Part 182)1) |
x) | Acid Wash Colour | Passes with 2 | Annex J of IS 534 |
The containers shall be dry, clean, and free from substances soluble in toluene, and classified as "flammable" and "dangerous goods" for transport or storage.
Once the draft is approved, products conforming to the requirements of this standard could be certified with the BIS and be marked with the Standard Mark.
What’s more, the Toluene Quality Control Order issued on December 24, 2021, took effect on 22 June, 2022 (ChemLinked News).
