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Quality control of gasohol using a micro-unit for membraneless gas diffusion

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Abstract

This work describes the development of a new spectrophotometric flow technique suitable for monitoring of ethanol content in gasohol fuel. Membraneless gas-diffusion (MBL-GD) was applied with one-step aqueous extraction of gasohol (1:2 gasohol/water). Segments of aqueous extract and color developing reagent were allowed to flow into two separate channels in the MBL-GD device. Inside the device, ethanol vapor can diffuse across a small headspace between the two channels (donor and acceptor). Introduction of an air-segment behind the zone of acceptor reagent to stop dispersion of the colored zone greatly improves the rapidity of analysis using this MBL-GD technique. Two methods were developed for quality control of gasohol by measuring ethanol content. Method I is suitable for direct calibration of E5 and E10. Method II is recommended for E20. These methods have high accuracy with good precision (% RSD: 1 to 4.9, n = 45) and have a sample throughput of 26 samples per hour. E10 samples were compared with analysis using a standard GC method.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by research grants given to DN [The Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and Center for Innovation in chemistry: Postgraduate Education and research Program in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC)]. The authors would like to thank scholarships given to SM (Staff Development for the Shortage Area, arranged by Burapha University).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Flow Innovation-Research for Science and Technology Laboratories (FIRST Labs), Bangkok, Thailand

    Sasithorn Muncharoen, Jirayu Sitanurak, Warawut Tiyapongpattana, Nathawut Choengchan, Nuanlaor Ratanawimarnwong, Prapin Wilairat & Duangjai Nacapricha

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Sasithorn Muncharoen, Jirayu Sitanurak, Warawut Tiyapongpattana, Prapin Wilairat & Duangjai Nacapricha

  3. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Chalong Krung Road, Bangkok, 10520, Thailand

    Nathawut Choengchan

  4. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University, Sukhumvit 23, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand

    Nuanlaor Ratanawimarnwong

  5. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushimanaka, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan

    Shoji Motomizu

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  1. Sasithorn Muncharoen
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  2. Jirayu Sitanurak
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  3. Warawut Tiyapongpattana
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  4. Nathawut Choengchan
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  5. Nuanlaor Ratanawimarnwong
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  6. Shoji Motomizu
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  7. Prapin Wilairat
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  8. Duangjai Nacapricha
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Duangjai Nacapricha.

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Muncharoen, S., Sitanurak, J., Tiyapongpattana, W. et al. Quality control of gasohol using a micro-unit for membraneless gas diffusion. Microchim Acta 164, 203–210 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-008-0058-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-008-0058-6

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