Characterization of Domestic Auto Diesel Adulteration with Kerosine up to 20%

Abstract

As the fuel prices escalates fuel adulteration incidences are reported in domestically and diesel adulteration is most prominently reported specially in private transportation sector. This research was carried out to characterize and estimate the diesel adulteration with kerosine at a maximum range up to 20%. Domestic Diesel and kerosine samples obtained from a fuel station. Parameters: distillation, flash point viscosity were analyzed using ASTM methods. Further more blended samples were analyzed using FTIR to find out their chemical structures. Samples were blended in volume-to-volume ratios. Control samples were taken as original diesel sample and original kerosine sample that taken from fuel station. Samples were prepared as 5K (5% Kerosine + 95% Diesel), 10K (10% Kerosine + 90% Diesel), 15K (15% Kerosine + 85% Diesel), 20K (20% Kerosine + 80% Diesel). According to results, increasing the concentration of kerosene in the blends decreases the kinematic viscosity and IBP in distillation and flash point values of the blended fuel compared with authentic diesel, but increases these values compared with authentic kerosene. Authentic diesel flashed at 86°C, while kerosene flashes at 47.5°C.  just adulterating even 5% kerosene causes a colossal 10.5°C drop (down to 75.5°C). By the time adulteration reaches 20%, the flash point plummets to 68.5°C.  A lower flash point increases the risk of premature ignition and adversely effects the engine performance. Impact of adulteration observed every 5% increment of kerosene methodically reduces the viscosity (from 3.794 → 3.522 → 3.346 → 3.093 → 3.000 cSt).  Fuel pumps and injectors rely on the viscosity of diesel for lubrication. Thinner, low-viscosity fuel resulting from kerosene adulteration could result with increase in friction, fuel pump wear, and injector leakage could be possible. Distillation Profile (IBP and 50% Recovery) Initial Boiling Point (IBP): Authentic diesel boiled at 186.6°C, while kerosene at 161.2°C. When kerosene is added to diesel, the IBP experiences an immediate drop to 185.2°C at a 5% blend, and steadily declines to 175.0°C at a 20% blend.  50% Recovery Temperature (T₅₀): This parameter shows a highly predictable, linear decline. Pure diesel's mid-boiling point is 292.6°C. As kerosene is blended in at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, the T₅₀ temperature drops systematically to 289.0°C, 286.8°C, 281.9°C, and 277.7°C correspondingly.  There is not very much significance difference between blended samples and control samples. Since the differences between pure diesel and pure kerosene are structural (chain lengths and branching) rather than functional (they contain the same elements), new peaks appearing or disappearing was not observed. Overall results shows that diesel adulteration adversely affects on engine performance.