Assessment of Gasoline Quality Marketed in Accra Metropolis, Ghana
Loading...
Date
2015-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
Premium gasoline is often adulterated with cheaper products (adulterants) like domestic kerosene. Kerosene is more difficult to burn than gasoline and this result in the increase of tailpipe emissions and engine complexities. Having similar physical and chemical properties, the gasoline and kerosene cannot be distinguished easily leading to a complication in identification and quantification of the adulterant. Routine monitoring of gasoline at the pump has been pointed out as essential in the prevention of this adulteration and a number of possible methods have been reviewed as there is no standard method for the detection and quantification of kerosene in gasoline. Most of these methods are not utilized in developing countries like Ghana because they require either specialized laboratory, equipment or chemical hence their implementation involves huge financial budgets. A corollary of this is a need for cheaper and tailored method for monitoring kerosene adulteration in gasoline.
This study monitored gasoline adulteration with domestic kerosene in Accra Metropolis by exploring the differences in their acidity levels as a “fingerprint”, determined by using an in-house, simple direct titration (SDT) method. Physicochemical properties of gasoline samples and other petroleum distillate fractions were studied after which simulation of gasoline adulteration with domestic kerosene was carried out and the acidity determined by the SDT method to obtain a calibration plot. The calibration standard was then utilized to estimate the amount of domestic kerosene (adulterant) present in 20 gasoline samples from some retail outlets in Accra Metropolis. Domestic kerosene in the range of 5 - 29% was found in 50% of the stations. This study therefore demonstrated that the method is feasible, cheaper, and does not require specialized laboratory or highly trained personnel to execute. Key standard quality parameters of the commercial gasolines were also determined and their compliance with local and international specifications was evaluated. However the gasoline available in Accra Metropolis was found not to conform to standard specifications for Europe, Japan and India. 35% did not conform to specification of Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) as well.
Description
Thesis (MPhil.) - University of Ghana, 2015