NGL / LPG Product Spec Check

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Product Compliance per GPA 2140

NGL / LPG Product Specification Check
Enter your laboratory results to check an LPG / NGL product against the GPA 2140 specification table. Pick a product grade (Commercial Propane, Commercial Butane, B-P Mixtures, or Propane HD-5), or choose Auto to find which grade(s) the sample qualifies for. Each parameter is checked against its GPA 2140 limit with the governing ASTM test method shown. Leave any property blank if you don't have it.

Product Grade

Propane HD-5 adds a composition requirement (≥90% propane, ≤5% propylene) and a lower sulfur limit.

Measured Properties

Enter lab results. Leave blank if not measured — blank rows are reported as "no data".

psig
ASTM D-1267
°F
Volatile residue · ASTM D-1837
vol%
Propane / HD-5 · ASTM D-2163
vol%
Butane / B-P · ASTM D-2163
ppmw
Excl. odorant · ASTM D-2784
mL
Propane / HD-5 · ASTM D-2158
Max No. 1 · ASTM D-1838
Propane / HD-5 · ASTM D-2158

Composition & Water

Composition fields apply to Propane HD-5. Moisture applies to propane grades; free water to butane / B-P.

vol%
HD-5 min 90 · ASTM D-2163
vol%
HD-5 max 5 · ASTM D-2163
Propane / HD-5 · cobalt-bromide / D-2713
Butane / B-P must be "none"

GPA 2140 LPG Product Specifications

What is GPA 2140?
GPA Standard 2140 sets the property limits and ASTM test methods that liquefied petroleum gas products must meet for commercial sale — the contractual definition of "propane", "butane", and "HD-5" in the midstream and retail LPG markets.
Parameters Checked:
Vapor pressure @100°F, 95% evaporation temperature, butane/pentane & heavier, residue on evaporation, oil stain, copper-strip corrosion, total sulfur, moisture/free water, and HD-5 propane/propylene composition.
Product Grades:
Commercial Propane, Commercial Butane, Commercial B-P Mixtures, and Propane HD-5. The Auto mode evaluates a single sample against all four to report which grade(s) it qualifies for from the data provided.

GPA 2140 Limits

PropertyProp.But.B-PHD-5
Vapor press. @100°F, psig max20870208208
Volatile residue: 95% evap temp, °F max-373636-37
  or butane & heavier, vol% max2.52.5
  or pentane & heavier, vol% max2.02.0
Residue / 100 mL, mL max0.050.05
Copper strip, maxNo.1No.1No.1No.1
Total sulfur, ppmw max185140140123
Moisture / free waterpassnonenonepass
Propane, vol% min90
Propylene, vol% max5

Source: GPA Standard 2140-97 specifications table.

Standards & References

  • GPA 2140
    Liquefied Petroleum Gas Specifications and Test Methods
  • ASTM D-1267
    Gauge Vapor Pressure of LPG (LP-Gas Method)
  • ASTM D-2163
    Analysis of LP Gases and Propylene Concentrates by GC
  • ASTM D-2784
    Sulfur in LPG (Oxyhydrogen Burner / Lamp)
  • ASTM D-1838
    Copper Strip Corrosion by LPG
  • ASTM D-1265 / GPA 2174
    LPG Sampling

Engineering Notes

  • HD-5 vs propane: HD-5 needs ≥90% propane, ≤5% propylene, and lower sulfur (123 vs 185 ppmw)
  • Sulfur basis: The GPA 2140 sulfur limit excludes odorant (stenching) sulfur — Note B
  • Vapor pressure is the key butane/propane discriminator (70 vs 208 psig max)
  • Copper strip ratings worse than No. 1 indicate corrosive sulfur species
  • Marginal = within 5% of a limit; an advisory, not a GPA 2140 classification
  • Screening check — verify against the controlling sales contract and an accredited lab report

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GPA 2140?

GPA Standard 2140 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Specifications and Test Methods) defines the property limits and the governing ASTM test methods for four commercial LPG/NGL product designations: Commercial Propane, Commercial Butane, Commercial B-P Mixtures, and Propane HD-5.

What are the four GPA 2140 product grades?

Commercial Propane (predominantly propane/propylene), Commercial Butane (predominantly butanes/butylenes), Commercial B-P Mixtures (butane-propane blends), and Propane HD-5 (a higher-purity propane fuel requiring at least 90 liquid volume percent propane and no more than 5 percent propylene).

What is the difference between Commercial Propane and Propane HD-5?

HD-5 is a more tightly controlled propane intended for internal-combustion-engine fuel. It adds a composition requirement (minimum 90 liquid volume percent propane and maximum 5 percent propylene) and a lower total-sulfur limit of 123 ppmw, versus 185 ppmw for Commercial Propane. Both share a 208 psig vapor-pressure limit and a -37°F 95-percent-evaporation temperature.

What is the vapor pressure limit for propane and butane under GPA 2140?

The maximum vapor pressure at 100°F (ASTM D-1267) is 208 psig for Commercial Propane, B-P Mixtures, and Propane HD-5, and 70 psig for Commercial Butane.

What is the total sulfur limit for LPG under GPA 2140?

Maximum total sulfur (ASTM D-2784) is 185 ppmw for Commercial Propane, 140 ppmw for Commercial Butane and B-P Mixtures, and 123 ppmw for Propane HD-5. Per GPA 2140 Note B, the total-sulfur limit excludes sulfur compounds added for stenching (odorization).

Does the GPA 2140 sulfur limit include odorant sulfur?

No. GPA 2140 Note B states that the total-sulfur limits do not include sulfur compounds used for stenching. The product sulfur entered for a spec check should be net of any odorant such as ethyl mercaptan.

What test methods are used for an LPG product spec check?

GPA 2140 references vapor pressure by ASTM D-1267, volatile residue (95-percent-evaporation temperature) by ASTM D-1837, composition and butane/pentane-and-heavier by ASTM D-2163, residue on evaporation and oil stain by ASTM D-2158, copper-strip corrosion by ASTM D-1838, total sulfur by ASTM D-2784, and propane dryness/moisture by the GPA cobalt-bromide test or ASTM D-2713.