Ashing

Ashing

A test to deduce the amount of ash forming material present in a petroleum product so as to decide its use in certain applications. Ash-forming materials are considered to be undesirable impurities or contaminants.

The specimen is placed in a suitable vessel, evaporating dish or crucible and ignited. It is allowed to burn until only ash and carbon remains. The carbonaceous residue is reduced to ash by heating in a muffle Furnace at about 775oC, cooled and weighed.

Ashing is also performed prior to chemical analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry ICPES.