Quality Improvement of Sudanese Petrodiesel Fuel by Furfural

Christina Yacoub Ishak,Elfatih A Hassan,Mohamed Ezeldin

doi:10.4236/ajac.2017.85027

Christina Yacoub Ishak, Elfatih A Hassan + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/ajac.2017.85027

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Abstract

The main objective of this project is quality improvement of Sudanese petrodiesel fuel by the use of furfural. The Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry GC/MS technique was performed to analyze organic compounds for marked petrodiesel fuel before and after treatment by furfural, physicochemical characteristics of petrodiesel fuel were investigated before and after treatment according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), characteristics include: density, distillation, cloud point, viscosity, ash content, micro carbon residue, water content, flash point, colour, copper strip corrosion, sulfur content and calculated cetane number. Elements composition of petrodiesel sample has been determined by Inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The furfural showed high ability in extraction of aromatic, cyclo and branched hydrocarbons, a total of 81 organic compounds that exhibit a negative effect on quality of petrodiesel have been removed by furfural. All physicochemical characteristics of petrodiesel fuel were improved within permissible limits assigned by ASTM. The furfural has shown no effect on colour of Sudanese Petrodiesel, which cetane number has increased from 54.46 to 58.36. The concentration of Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, Al and As have been decreased after treatment by furfural, these results have led to decrease of ash content.

Highlights

The most important property of diesel fuel is cetane number [1], the refineries in the world and researchers in this area are working to improve the cetane number by using environment friendly materials [2]
The Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry GC/MS technique was performed to analyze organic compounds for marked petrodiesel fuel before and after treatment by furfural, physicochemical characteristics of petrodiesel fuel were investigated before and after treatment according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), characteristics include: density, distillation, cloud point, viscosity, ash content, micro carbon residue, water content, flash point, colour, copper strip corrosion, sulfur content and calculated cetane number
The data obtained from GC/MS revealed that the furfural has shown high ability to extract aromatic, branched and cyclo organic compounds (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

The most important property of diesel fuel is cetane number [1], the refineries in the world and researchers in this area are working to improve the cetane number by using environment friendly materials [2]. Ishak et al 356 cetane number of the fuel. A higher number can reduce combustion noise and smoke and enhance ease of starting the engine in cold climates [3]. The magnitude of the benefit varies among engine designs and operating modes, ranging from no effect to readily perceptible improvement [3]

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