Quality Control of Products in Petroleum Refining

Abstract

This chapter is concerned mostly with the laboratory testing for the control of petroleum products. It will be concerned with those tests that establish the quality of refinery streams and in some finished and salable products. What are not covered are those specialized tests such as mass spectrometry, motor road tests, and the like. Where possible sketches of test apparatus are included. Most of these tests are performed in the refinery laboratory and generally follow the methods provided by the respective ASTM numbered tests.

David S. J. Jones: deceased.

Appendix 1: Typical Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Specifications in Europe and the United States

Some gasoline and diesel fuel specifications are moving targets in that they get updated on a more or less regular basis. The following attempts to summarize some of its most salient characteristics as of early 2014.

Typical gasoline (petrol) specifications in the European Union (November 2012)

RON	91/95
MON	81/85
Sulfur, ppm, max	10
Lead, g/l, max	0.005
Manganese, g/l, max	0.002 (as of January 2014)
Benzene, vol%, max	1
Aromatics, vol%, max	35
Olefins, vol%, max	18

Typical gasoline specifications in the United States (July 2012)

Antiknock index (R+M)/2
Regular	87
Midgrade	89
Premium	91+
Sulfur, ppm, max	80 (cap), 30 (average)
Lead, g/l, max	0.013
Manganese, g/l, max	0.0083 (0)
Benzene, vol%, max	0.62 (average), 1.3 (max)
Aromatics, vol%, max
Olefins, vol%, max

Typical diesel fuel specifications in the European Union (February 2012)

	Temperate climate	Arctic and winter climates
Cetane number, min	51	47–49
Cetane index, min	46	43–46
Sulfur, ppm, max	10	10
Total aromatics, vol%, max
Polyaromatics, wt%, max	8	8
Density at 15 °C, kg/m3, min–max	820–845	800–845
Viscosity at 40 °C, cSt, min–max	2–4.5	1.2–4

Typical 2-D diesel fuel specifications in the United States (December 2012)

Cetane number, min	40
Cetane index, min	40a
Sulfur, ppm, max	15
Total aromatics, vol%, max	35a
Polyaromatics, wt%, max
Density at 15 °C, kg/m3, min–max
Viscosity at 40 °C, cSt, min–max	1.9–4.1

1. ^aEither specification must be met