Arid Zone Journal of Engineering, Technology and Environment, June, 2018; Vol.

14(2):244-248
Copyright © Faculty of Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Print ISSN: 1596-2490, Electronic ISSN: 2545-5818, www.azojete.com.ng

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF

GASOLINE PRODUCED FROM LOCALLYMADE REFINERY IN THE NIGER
DELTA CREEKS AND GOVERNMENT OWNED PETROLEUM REFINING
COMPANY IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION OF
NIGERIA
Peretomode, J. E.
(Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Delta State University, Abraka, P. M. B. 22, Oleh
Campus, Nigeria.)
Corresponding author’s email: peretomodejeffery7@gmail.com

Abstract
This study investigates some physicochemical properties of gasoline obtained from a locally-made
refinery prevalent in the Niger Delta region and compares its properties with a government owned public
refinery. The results showed that, copper corrosion values ranged from class 1a to class 1b (slightly
tarnish), specific gravity ranged from 0.76 to 0.77, Reid Vapor Pressure ranged from 0.37 psi to 0.41 psi
while Atmospheric distillation ranged from 203 °C to 212 °C. The data of this investigation reveal that
most of the products are within the standard and fit for usage. Regardless of the tremendous result
obtained from the aforementioned analysis, a performance test was carried out on the samples by using it
to power a one stroke internal combustion engine: it was observed that the locally (illegally) produced
gasoline burns at a pressure lower than the referenced sample, this is because, the locally produced
gasoline contains slight traces of kerosene.

Keywords: Physicochemical Properties; Gasoline; Specific gravity; Atmospheric distillation

1. Introduction
Gasoline is obtained from crude oil through blending of atmospheric distillation naphtha and
products from other complex refinery processes (Faruq et al, 2012). With the advent of the
internal combustion engine, production of gasoline has dominated the refining processes (Faruq
et al, 2012). This is because the quantities of gasoline obtainable from distillation alone were
insufficient to satisfy consumer demand. Therefore, to meet the gasoline demand some
petroleum fractions must be converted to gasoline by processes like Cracking, Hydro processing,
Alkylation and catalytic reforming (Handwerk, 2001).
Gasoline, popularly called petrol or fuel in Nigeria is a derivative of fractional distillation of
crude oil with boiling temperature ranging from 40-200 °C, consisting of 5 to 12 carbon atoms in
a complex mixture of hydrocarbon with its usual composition (% volume): 4-8% alkanes; 2-5%
alkenes; 25-40% iso-alkanes; 3-7% cyclo-akanes; 1-4% cyclo-alkenes; and 20-50% total
aromatics (0.5-2.5% benzene) (Hoekman, 1992).
At the end of the production process, finished gasoline typically contains more than 150 separate
compounds, although, as many as 1,000 compounds have been identify in some blends
(Hoekman, 1992). Hence, in spite of the fact that gasoline is solely used in internal combustion
engine, its chemical composition varies depending on the crude oil used, the refinery processes
available, the overall balance of product demand and the product specifications.
The advent of locally produced gasoline has provided an alternative to remedy the situation of
fuel scarcity due to low production capacities of our refineries.
Arid Zone Journal of Engineering, Technology and Environment, June, 2018; Vol. 14(2):244-248.
ISSN 1596-2490; e-ISSN 2545-5818; www.azojete.com.ng

Locally produced gasoline is fast becoming an alternative to the premium-motor-spirit within the
Niger Delta area, especially in the riverine communities. The locally produced petrol is not tested
to certify its correspondence to any set parameters; which endangers the lives of everyone that
uses, transport, and sell the product.
Two methods by which gasoline can be produced locally include;

 The Drum method which uses two drums and is roughly estimated to about 240 liters of
crude per cooking. This crude oil is cooked by mounting the drum section above a pit
containing bitumen, the bitumen is used as fuel to produce the heat necessary for the
required fractionation. Fractionation of gasoline from the mixture begins within 15-
20mins of cooking the crude oil, the volume of gasoline gotten from this method varies
within 30-45 liters, this variability is dependent on the type of crude oil used as raw
material.
 The tank method is very much like the drum method except in capacity and time required
to complete the process. The volume of crude oil used varies within 50-55 drums, which
in-turn yields about 5-8 drums of gasoline depending on the type of crude oil used as raw
material.
The aim of this study is to examine some physicochemical properties of gasoline obtained from a
locally-made refinery prevalent in the Niger Delta region and compare its properties with a
government owned public refinery, a s a d e t a i l e d hydrocarbon analysis is of great
importance in t h e processing of naphtha’s orgasoline (Siuetal,1994).
This study will help to clarify and give a good understanding as to whether the locally produced
gasoline is fit or not for usage and to suggest possible solution to remedy its short-comings.
To achieve the aim of this study, the following properties of locally produced gasoline such as
the specific gravity, atmospheric distillation, Reid vapour pressure, and copper corrosion is
investigated and compared to the government owned public refinery.
2. Materials And Method
Four samples of locally produced gasoline were collected randomly and analyzed to determine
the quality of these samples. The WRPC set parameters was used as reference standard and all
samples were analyzed according to the ASTM test method.
Apparatus
 Reid vapor pressure (K11450 Reid Vapor Pressure Bath, 4-Unit )
 Koehler K45000 / K45090
 Copper corrosion apparatus (K25310 copper strip corrosion test bomb bath)
 ASTM D86 – Distillation of Petroleum Products at Atmospheric Pressure
2.1 Determination of specific gravity
A 100ml measuring cylinder was properly washed and blown dry. It was then filled with the
sample to be analyzed. The hydrometer was inserted and allowed to come to rest floating freely
away from the walls and bottom of the cylinder and the specific gravity value was read directly
from the calibration of the hydrometer. A thermometer submerged into the measuring cylinder
was used to stir samples and its reading noted to obtain the temperature of the samples. The
temperature values are converted into °F to obtain the correct specific gravity (SG).

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Peretomode.: Comparative analysis of the physicochemical properties of gasoline produced from
locally made refinery in the Niger delta creeks and government owned petroleum refining company in
the Niger delta region of Nigeria. AZOJETE, 14(2):244-248 ISSN 1596-2490; e-ISSN 2545-5818,
www.azojete.com.ng

2.2 Determination of Reid Vapor Pressures (RVP)

The liquid chamber of the RVP kits apparatus was filled with a 50ml gasoline sample that has
been adjusted to a temperature of38°C and the liquid chamber was connected to the vapor
chamber fitted with a pressure gauge. The entire assembly was immersed in the water bath of
adjusted temperature of 38°C. After thirty minutes (30mins), the assembly was removed, shaken
and the pressure gauge was read. The procedure was repeated until two successive readings are
within 2.6kPa.

2.3 Atmospheric distillation

ASTM D86 – Distillation of Petroleum Products at Atmospheric Pressure
A 100ml fuel sample is placed in a round-bottom flask and heated at a controlled rate till
evaporation. The temperature is recorded when the first drop of condensate falls from the lower
end of the condenser tube into the receiving cylinder (the initial boiling point). The distillation
was continued and the temperatures at 70°C, 125°C, 180°C and temperature at the end of the test
(end point/final boiling point of distillate)was recorded.

2.4 Standard Test Method for Corrosiveness of Copper using Copper Strip Test Procedure
The Copper Strip test assesses the relative degree of corrosiveness of petroleum products. A
polished copper strip is immersed in 30ml of sample at elevated temperature. After the test
period, the strip is examined for evidence of corrosion and a classification number from 1-4 is
assigned based on a comparison with the ASTM Copper Strip Corrosion Standards.

3. Results and Discussion

Gasoline is a refined product of petroleum consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons, additives,
and blending agents. The composition of gasoline varies widely, depending on the crude oils
used, the refinery processes available, the overall balance of product demand, and the product
specifications. Physicochemical properties of a locally-made gasoline was measured and
compared with the results of a government owned refinery. The properties investigated include
appearance, free water, specific gravity, distillate evaporate, end boiling point, copper corrosion
and Reid vapor pressure test, atmospheric distillation, copper corrosion of illegally refined
gasoline. The data of the analysis are presented in Table 1.

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Arid Zone Journal of Engineering, Technology and Environment, June, 2018; Vol. 14(2):244-248.
ISSN 1596-2490; e-ISSN 2545-5818; www.azojete.com.ng

Table 1: Warri Refinery petroleum company standard for gasoline and results for Sample 1, 2, 3 and 4
Parameters WRPC Results Obtained
set
Standard
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4
Appearance Clear and Clear and Clear and Clear and Clear and
Bright Bright Bright Bright Bright
Free Water Nill Nil Nil Nil Nil
Specific gravity at 0.720–0.770 0.761 0.74 0.764 0.78
15/15°C
Distillate Evaporate at:
70°C, % (viv), max. 10 <10 <10 <10 >10
125°C, % (viv), max. 50 58 48 46 53
180°C, % (viv), max. 90 92 84 88 94
°
End Boiling Point, C, 210 205 202 208 212
(max)
Copper corrosion, 3h Class 1b Class 1a Class 1a Class 1a Class 1a
at 50°C (max)
Reid Vapor Pressure, 62.0 (9 psi) 2.41(0.35psi) 2.62(0.38 psi) 2.55(0.37psi) 2.76(0.40psi)
kPa (max)

Table 1 above shows the result of investigated properties which include appearance, free water,
specific gravity, distillate evaporate, end boiling point, copper corrosion and Reid vapor pressure
test, atmospheric distillation, copper corrosion of locally refined gasoline.
The specific gravity results arrived at after the experiment has been shown to exhibit properties
of a light crude as a raw material, given the fact that most of the samples tested were within the
range stipulated by the reference standard, the result obtained from the four samples that was
tested exhibit very slight differences. The RVP and distillation result Indicates the presence of
kerosene in the sample: which accounts for the low vapor pressure and the excess evaporate at
specific temperatures regardless of the end boiling point. However, the low corrosiveness to
copper is as a result of minute hydrogen sulphide in the feedstock used.
In other to achieve the aim of this work, the major objective was to examine some
physicochemical properties of gasoline obtained from a locally-made refinery prevalent in the
Niger Delta region and compare its properties with a government owned public refinery, from
the experimental results, it can be inferred that; the vapor pressure at which the locally produced
gasoline burns (0.35, 0.38, 0.37, 0.40psi for samples 1,2,3,4 respectively), is lower than that of
the referenced standard (9psi).The energy generated when used to power an internal combustion
engine is lower, compared to the referenced standard. The results of this research reveal that
most of the products are within the standard. In order to improve the quality and performance of
the locally produced gasoline, the crude used as raw material should be blended with additives in
order to enable the fractions to specifications. Because of the limited processing unit available to
the local refiner, the following additives c: xylene, toluene, and methyl tertiary butyl ether
(MTBE) could be blended with the crude oil before fractionation. A specific gravity sensor
should be installed at the fraction’s outlet to avoid mixture of different fractions.

247
Peretomode.: Comparative analysis of the physicochemical properties of gasoline produced from
locally made refinery in the Niger delta creeks and government owned petroleum refining company in
the Niger delta region of Nigeria. AZOJETE, 14(2):244-248 ISSN 1596-2490; e-ISSN 2545-5818,
www.azojete.com.ng

4. Conclusion
From the results obtained it can generally be concluded that locally refining gasoline in the
riverine communities in the Niger Delta should be encouraged as it has prospect and the
technology if adopted, modified and developed by government. It can be very useful for the
production of commercial gasoline in no-distant future as this will help curb or remedy the
frequent fuel scarcity and high cost of the product due to low production capacities of our
Government owned refineries.

5. References
ASTM D130 – 12. Standard Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from Petroleum Products
by Copper Strip Test.

Faruq, UZ., Runde, M., Danshehu, BG., Yahaya, HN., Zuru, AA. and Muhammad, AB. 2012.
Comparative Studies of Gasoline Samples Used in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Basic and
Applied Science 20(2): 87-92
Hoekman, SK. 1992. Speculated Measurements and Calculated Reactivities of Vehicle
Exhaust Emissions from Conventional and Reformulated Gasolines. Environmental Science
Technology, 26: 1206-1216

Handwerk, GE. 2001. Petroleum Refining Technology 1st edition. Marcel Dekka, New York, pp
83-91
Hoekman, SK. 1992. Speciated Measurements and Calculated Reactivities of Vehicle Exhaust
Emissions from Conventional and Reformulated Gasoline. Environmental Science Technology,
26: 1206-1216.
Siu TT., Anthony DW. and Kjell Urdal. 1994. Detailed hydrocarbon analysis of gasoline by
GC‐MS (SI‐PIONA). Journal of high resolution Chromatography 17(6):469 - 475

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