Project total budget: 830.000 RON

Project director: Prof. Dr. Ing. Paul Roşca, Petrol – Gaze University of Ploieşti

Action plan

Stage I: Investigation of the analytical methods for testing the quality of fuels

15.12.2006

Activity 1.1. Investigation of the analytical techniques and methods for the characterization of fuel quality according to the European quality standards.

Activity 1.2. Technical training of the personnel and training in the field of quality assurance systems.

Activity 1.3. Laboratory materials purchasing. Laboratory furnishing.

Stage II: Development of the analytical techniques for testing the quality of fuels

30.06.2007

Activity 2.1. Equipment and materials purchasing.

Activity 2.2. Development of analytical methods for measuring the quality of fuels according to European directives and national quality standards. Training of personnel. Participation to international symposia, conferences, workshops and study tours.

Stage III: Validation of the analytical methods for characterization of the quality of fuels. Elaboration of the technical documentation and application for accreditation.

10.10.2007

Activity 3.1. Validation of the analytical methods developed for the characterization of fuel’s quality.

Activity 3.2. Elaboration of the technical documentation and application for ST ISO/CEI 17025/2005 accreditation.

Activity 3.3. Dissemination of information.

Stage IV: Dissemination of information. Obtaining the accreditation certificate.

28.02.2008

Summary of progress

Stage I

In the present project we propose to respond to the national-wide market demand for analytical testing services for petroleum products, such as gasoline and diesel oil, provided by accredited independent bodies according to European directives. The precompetitive applicative research activities consisted of documentation concerning the SREN 45011:2001 quality assurance standard, as well as of documentation on the analytical methods for testing the physical and chemical properties of the main commercial petroleum products. We have performed experiments for verification and validation of the analytical methods agreed by the European directives and the Romanian legislation.

In this stage we have presented the actual situation at the international level with respect to the gasoline and diesel fuel demand, and the evolution of their quality requirements imposed by the severe environmental regulations. We have, therefore, shown the main actions taken by refineries to provide the fuels and to use the manufacturing technologies that allow the best protection to the environment with respect to both urban development and global warming.

We have described the main quality characteristics for commercial gasoline and diesel oil and emphasized the correlations between their chemical composition and their behavior in engines and level of pollutant emissions. We have focused on the quality testing methods for gasoline (EN228) and diesel fuels (EN 545).

The first stage of the project also consisted of an experimental study aimed at emphasizing the modern, quick and efficient analytical methods used to determine the quality of gasoline and diesel fuels correlated with their chemical composition (aromatics, methyl esters). We have comparatively investigated several methods: gas chromatography, IR spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Our findings showed the high precision and good reproducibility of the GC-MS method. However, the prohibitive price and the long duration of analysis limit the applicability of this method for current quality testing procedures. We have to consider the large number of samples that need to be tested on a daily basis both by the producer (refineries) and their customers (pas stations), but also by the law enforcement agencies and other governmental bodies. Measuring the chemical composition by infrared spectrometry (FTIR) is much chipper, quicker, and its reliability can be significantly improved by expanding the data base used to determine the correlation between the spectra and the different properties of the fuels. Such an instrument is recommended by the American standard ASTM D 6277 to measure 14 aromatic hydrocarbons including benzene and by the American standard ASTM D 5845 to establish 9 oxygen containing compounds.

We have prospected the market to identify instruments that can provide the infrastructure for the following analyses: four testing methods for the physical and chemical properties of gasoline (benzene content - EN 12177:1998, distillation - EN ISO 3405: 2000, vapor pressure - EN 13016-1:2000, types of hydrocarbons - ASTM D 1319-95a) and four testing methods for diesel fuels (polycyclic aromatics - EN 12916:2000, lubrication - EN ISO 1215-1:2000, bio-diesel - EN 14078:2003, flash point - EN ISO 2719:2002).

Following this analysis we have presented the equipment we decided to purchase and their characteristics and performance: high pressure liquid chromatograph, FTIR for gasoline, FTIR for diesel fuel, distillation instrument for gasoline and diesel, vapor pressure instrument, flash point instrument, and the equipment for testing the lubricity of diesel fuels.

This data will be further used to elaborate the tendering documentation for purchasing the equipment.