Industry Roundup: AnalytiChem Launches Complete CONOSTAN Standards Range for ASTM D3606 Benzene/Toluene Testing

AnalytiChem, a supplier of specialty chemicals, reference standards, and laboratory consumables, has announced¹ the release of a new line of CONOSTAN-branded gas chromatography (GC) standards designed to support the full analytical workflow for ASTM D3606, the standard test method used to determine benzene and toluene content in spark-ignition engine fuels.

The AnalyticChem website states that “for nearly 50 years, CONOSTAN has been recognized as the benchmark brand in oil standards and certified reference materials for the petroleum and fuels industries. Laboratories, refineries, and research teams worldwide trust the name because it consistently delivers accuracy, stability, and confidence.”²

For laboratories running D3606, the announcement addresses a familiar pain point: sourcing a coherent set of standards, from calibration through system-suitability checks, without having to piece together materials from multiple vendors with differing certification practices. The new 19-product range includes calibration curve kits and check standards for both the A and B procedures specified in the method, along with neat internal standards and system-suitability solutions.

Why This Matters to GC Analysts

Benzene's status as a regulated carcinogen, combined with the role aromatic content plays in both emissions performance and fuel quality, means D3606 results carry substantial regulatory and operational weight for refiners verifying compliance, blenders optimizing gasoline formulations, and third-party laboratories running routine QC. As with any GC method reliant on internal standardization, the accuracy of D3606 results depends heavily on variables that go beyond the calibration curve itself: peak resolution between benzene, toluene, and coeluting matrix components; the integrity and traceability of the internal standard; and system cleanliness across sample runs, where carryover or column degradation can quietly erode data quality over time.

By offering internal-standard-included kits alongside un-spiked options and neat internal standards sold separately, AnalytiChem is positioning the range to serve two distinct lab workflows: those wanting a fast, pre-configured solution, and those with established procedures who manage internal standard addition themselves.

Manufacturing and Traceability

The standards are produced at AnalytiChem's CONOSTAN Manufacturing Center, which holds ISO 17034 accreditation, the standard governing producers of reference materials.

"We developed our new CONOSTAN D3606 GC Standards range to give analysts complete confidence in their results at every stage of GC analysis for this key ASTM method," said Kimberly Halkiotis, Global Segment Leader Materials at AnalytiChem, in the announcement.¹

Context

CONOSTAN has been a recognized name in petroleum-sector reference standards for nearly five decades, with an existing portfolio spanning sulfur-in-petroleum standards, TAN, TBN, viscosity, and flashpoint CRMs. The D3606 range extends that footprint into fuel-specific hydrocarbon speciation, an area where analysts have historically had to rely on standards sourced piecemeal or produced in-house.

About AnalytiChem

AnalytiChem was formed through the acquisition and integration of companies with expertise in specialized laboratory applications, bringing together decades of manufacturing experience and complementary product technologies. The company focuses on supporting laboratories worldwide with specialized equipment, reagents, and consumables designed to enable better measurements in analytical chemistry and microbiology, including culture media, reference materials for inorganic and organic analysis, laboratory consumables, and sample preparation equipment.^1,2

AnalytiChem employs over 600 people across manufacturing, distribution, sales, and support centers in Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Australia. More information is available at analytichem.com.^1,2

References

1. AnalytiChem Launches CONOSTAN® GC Standards Range for Fuel Testing. AnalytiChem website. https://www.analytichem.com/news/analytichem-launches-conostan-gc-standards-range-for-fuel-testing (accessed 2026-08-04)
2. About AnalytiChem. AnalytiChem website. https://www.analytichem.com/about-analytichem (accessed 2026-08-04)