Dadson J K, Arthur V, Asiedu N Y, Akoto O
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.
Standards Directorate, Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana.
Heliyon. 2024 Aug 27;10(17):e36945. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36945. eCollection 2024 Sep 15.
Diesel adulteration not only reduces engine performance and lifespan but also has a stiffening effect on the economy. Therefore, regulatory agencies and petroleum laboratories are constantly adopting various methods to ensure that commercial diesel is pure and of good quality. Despite the introduction of solvent tracer analysis as a reliable means of detecting adulteration, most laboratories still depend on the physicochemical parameters of diesel as an indicator of adulteration. This research aimed to document the feasibility of using quality parameters to detect diesel adulteration. Neat diesel samples were mixed with some common adulterants (kerosene, premix, and condensate) at varying concentrations. The quality of each admixture was analysed using the ERASPEC fuel analyser and physicochemical parameters including density, kinematic viscosity, cetane index, and flashpoint were recorded. A negative correlation was observed between adulteration and all quality parameters. At low levels of adulteration, physicochemical parameters were within the required range. However, diesel with adulterants above 20 % v/v had cetane index, density, and flashpoint values not conforming with quality standards. Kinematic viscosity of diesel remained within the required limits despite the levels of adulteration. Physicochemical parameters, though generally accepted as good indicators of fuel quality, were not reliable indicators of diesel adulteration, especially at low levels. At higher levels of adulteration, the type of adulterant present must be considered if physicochemical parameters are to be used to predict adulteration. However, it is recommended that physicochemical parameters be used in combination with other techniques to detect diesel adulteration.
柴油掺假不仅会降低发动机性能和使用寿命，还会对经济产生不利影响。因此，监管机构和石油实验室不断采用各种方法来确保商业柴油纯净且质量良好。尽管引入了溶剂示踪剂分析作为检测掺假的可靠方法，但大多数实验室仍依赖柴油的物理化学参数作为掺假的指标。本研究旨在记录使用质量参数检测柴油掺假的可行性。将纯柴油样品与一些常见掺假物（煤油、预混物和冷凝物）以不同浓度混合。使用ERASPEC燃料分析仪分析每种混合物的质量，并记录包括密度、运动粘度、十六烷指数和闪点在内的物理化学参数。观察到掺假与所有质量参数之间呈负相关。在低掺假水平下，物理化学参数在要求范围内。然而，掺假物含量高于20%（体积/体积）的柴油，其十六烷指数、密度和闪点值不符合质量标准。尽管有掺假水平，但柴油的运动粘度仍保持在要求的限度内。物理化学参数虽然通常被认为是燃料质量的良好指标，但并不是柴油掺假的可靠指标，尤其是在低掺假水平时。在较高掺假水平下，如果要使用物理化学参数来预测掺假，必须考虑存在的掺假物类型。然而，建议将物理化学参数与其他技术结合使用来检测柴油掺假。
