Experimental Investigation of the Physicochemical Quality of Gasoline Refined by Indigenous Technology in Nigeria
Abstract
Fuel produced by artisanal refiners using indigenous technology continues to find its way into the Nigerian oil market despite the proscription of such refining activities in the Niger Delta, owing largely to the illegal means by which the artisans procure crude oil and also related to doubt about the quality of products coming from their covertly operated facilities. Therefore, in this study, gasoline samples were collected across 30 artisanal refiner camps, and their properties were examined to ascertain their conformity with the minimum requirements of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) on fuel quality. Standard test protocols on fuel characterisation published by ASTM were utilised for the analysis. The specific gravity of the samples determined at 15℃ ranged from 0.796 – 0.807 g/cm3. The Antiknock Index ranged between 78.75% and 82.45% for the fuel, and the initial and final boiling points of the samples were about 32 – 39.1℃ and 226.3 – 238.7℃, respectively. The distillation profiles of most of the fuel samples were satisfactory. Experimental data gathered from this study indicate that notwithstanding the artisanal refiners’ shortcomings, they are still able to produce fuels that meet some minimum local and international requirements
Downloads
References
Álvarez, F. J. A., Callejón, A. I., & Forns, F. S. (2005). Alternative Internal Combustion Engines, UPC, Spain.
Amangabara, G. T., & Obenade, M. (2014). The Socioeconomic Implications of Oil Theft and Artisanal Refining in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. International Journal of Science and Research, 3(7), 2390 – 2394.
Asimiea, A. & Omokhua, G. (2013). Environmental impact of illegal refineries on the vegetation of the Niger Delta Nigeria. J. Agric. Soc. Res. 13, 121–126.
ASTM D129 (2020). Standard Test Method for Sulphur in petroleum products (general high-pressure decomposition device method). ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.,
ASTM D1298 (2017). Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity) or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM D130 (2019). Standard Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from Petroleum Products by Copper Strip Test, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM D381 (2019). Standard Test Method for Gum Content in Fuels by Jet Evaporation, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM D2699 (2019). Standard Test Method for Research Octane Number for Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM D2700 (2019). Standard Test Method for Motor Octane Number for Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM D4176 (2017). Standard Test Method for Free Water and Particulate Contamination in Distillate Fuels, ASTM International West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM D4814 (2020) Standard Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM D86 (2020). Standard Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products at Atmospheric Pressure, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
Chikwe, T. N., Osuji, L. C., & Okoye, I. P. (2016). Adulteration of PMS (gasoline) with condensates: impact on quality assurance parameters. J. Chem. Soc. Nigeria 41, 113–117.
Fernández-Feal, M. C., Sánchez-Fernández, L. R., & Sánchez-Fernández, B. (2017). Distillation: Basic Test in Quality Control of Automotive Fuels. Intech Open, 77–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/67140
Goodnews, M. M., & Wordu, S. A. (2019). Analysis of Trend and Emergent Factors of Artisanal Refining in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Human Ecology & Nature Studies, 7(1), 43-55
Liccione, H. (1995). Toxicological Profile for Gasoline, U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Nebraska.
Hsu, C. S. & Robinson, P. R. (2006). Practical Advances in Petroleum Processing. Volume 1, Springer, New York.
Igbani, S. & Lucky, B. O. (2015). Experimental investigation of API gravity of gasoline in dispensing stations and its effects on gasoline engines in Bayelsa state, Nigeria. International Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 5(4), 74-78.
Lluch, U. J. (2008). Technology and petroleum refining profit. Santos, Spain.
Maclean, M. G. & Steve, A. W. (2019). Analysis of trend and emergent factors of artisanal refining in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Int. J. Innovat. Hum. Ecol. Nat. Stud. 7, 43–55.
Matijošius, J. & Sokolovskij, E. (2009). Research into the quality of fuels and their biocomponents. Transport, 24(3), 212–217.
Naanen, B. & Tolani, P. (2014). Private Gain, Public Disaster: Social Context of Illegal Oil Bunkering and Artisanal Refining in the Niger Delta. Niger Delta Environment and Relief Foundation Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Nwankwoala, H. O., Harry, M. T., Amangabara, G. T., & Warmate, T. (2017). Impacts of artisanal refining activities on soil and water quality in parts of Okrika and Ogu-Bolo areas of Rivers state, Nigeria, J. Environ. Anal. Toxicol. 7 (2017) 503–509.
Obenade, M., & Amangabara, G. T (2014). Perspective: the environmental implications of oil theft and artisanal refining in the Niger Delta region. Asian Rev. Environ. Earth Sci. 1, 25–29.
Ogele, E. P., & Egobueze, A. (2020). The Artisanal Refining and Socioeconomic Development in Rivers State, Nigeria, 2007-2017. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, IV 16-25.
Onojake, M. C. Osuji, L. C. Atako, N. (2012). Behavioural characteristics of adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 21, 135–138.
Renewable Fuel Foundation (RFF). (2009). Changes in Gasoline Manual IV: the Auto Technician guide to spark ignition engine fuel quality.
Nigerian Industrial Standard NIS 116. (2017). Standard for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Abuja.
Udo, G. J., Awaka-Ama, J. J., & Uwanta, E. J., Ekwere, I. O., Chibueze, I. R. (2020). Comparative Analyses of Physicochemical Properties of Artisanal Refined Gasoline and Regular Automotive Gasoline. Front. Chem. 8, 753. http://doi:10.3389/fchem.2020.00753
Umukoro, N. (2018). Homegrown Solution to African Problem: Harnessing Innovation for Petroleum Refining in Nigeria. Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 37(4), 58-73
Shaibu, V. O. & Weli, V. E. (2017) Relationship between PM2.5 and climate variability in Niger Delta, Nigeria. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 5(1), 20-24. http://doi:10.12691/env-5-1-4
Vempatapu, B. P. & Kanaujia, P. K. (2017). Monitoring petroleum fuel adulteration: a review of analytical methods. Trends Analyst. Chem. 92, 1–11. http://doi:10.1016/j.trac.2017.04.011
Worldwide Fuel Charter. (2019). Gasoline and Diesel Fuel, 6th ed. WWFC, Washington.
Yabrade, M., & Tanee, F. B. G. (2016). Assessing the Impact of Artisanal Petroleum Refining on Vegetation and Soil Quality: A Case Study of Warri South West Salt Wetland of Delta State, Nigeria. Res. J. Environ. Toxicol. 10, 205–212.
Copyright (c) 2023 Babatunde Oyeleke Oyewale, Jacob Ademola Sonibare, Stephen Ayodele Odewale, Oludare Johnson Odejobi, Olumuyiwa Oyekunle Akintola
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
