Recent Advances in the Use of Sensors and Markers for Fuel Adulteration Detection: A Review

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue XI, November 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Recent Advances in the Use of Sensors and Markers for Fuel Adulteration Detection: A Review

Gubihama Joel* and Linus N. Okoro

Department of Petroleum Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author

Abstract:-Crude oil distillates (gasoline, kerosene, and diesel) and biofuels are vital energy sources that drive the manufacturing and automobile industry. Unfortunately, price disparity among these fuels induces marketers to adulterate for profit making. Fuel adulteration is a common practice in developing nations due to poor infrastructure and absent of strict laws. Fuel adulteration reduces engine performance, causes harmful greenhouse gases to be emitted through exhaust tailpipe of automobiles and contributes to global warming. These makes fuel adulteration an environmental threat hence the need to find innovative methods and techniques that will help in detection for easy prosecution of offenders. The use of sensors in modern chemistry has generated great interest due to their enhanced precision and accuracy. New policies on the use of markers for distinguishing different organic solvents has also aided in their identification when used as adulterants in fuels. Some organic compounds are also employed as markers to aid in the detection of impurities in fuels. There view will focus on recent research works that have utilized the use of sensors and makers for fuel adulteration detection.

Key words: Refractive index, fuel adulteration, fiber optic grating, refractometer, wavelength, organic solvents

I. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Fuel Adulteration

Fuel adulteration is defined as the act of blending petroleum/bio fuels or organic/inorganic solvents in little proportion with a large amount of desired commercial petroleum/bio fuel in order to increase the total volume of the desired commercial petroleum/bio for profit. Fuel adulteration is a criminal offence and strict embargoes set by law enforcement agencies have helped in the mitigation and control of this malpractice in most developed countries. However, fuel adulteration is on the rise in many developing nations like India, Brazil and Nigeria. In most developing nations where the government subsidizes kerosene due to high consumption and demand of the product by poor citizens, some marketers have taken advantage of this kind gesture by mixing the subsidized kerosene with high price diesel and petrol in order to boost their profits. Fuel Adulteration leads to knocks in automobile engines caused by wear and tear of pistons due to reduced lubrication and late ignition. Greenhouse gases are also released via tailpipe emissions from incomplete combustions of the adulterated fuel.

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