Transformation of diesel range hydrocarbons by inorganic double salts

Abstract

Ability of double salts: Ammonium cobalt (ll) sulphate hexahydrate (NH₄)₂Co (SO₄)₂.6H₂O and Potassium aluminium sulphate dodecahydrate KAl(SO₄)₂.12H₂O to degrade diesel range hydrocabons (DRH) were investigated by treating a sample of diesel with the double salts at elevated temperature of 200^oC. The degradation or otherwise of the hydrocarbons in the treated and untreated diesel samples were determined using Gas chromatography (GC). The results showed that the double salts were able to alter the hydrocarbon fingerprint of the diesel sample as the C₁₁-C₁₄ aliphatic hydrocarbons were drastically reduced and the C₁₆-C₃₆ range of hydrocarbons experienced noticeable increase. The hump for unresolved complex mixtures was retained in all the chromatograms, showing that the salts were unable to alter the oxygenated compounds in the diesel sample.

Keywords: Diesel, double salt, Hydrocarbons, Gas Chromatography