| Abstrakt: |
Physiochemical analysis of petroleum products was carried out on premium motor spirit (PMS), automated gas oil (AGO) and dual purpose kerosene (DPK) procured from two licensed (filling station) and one unlicensed (black-market) sales outlet. The parameters that were analyzed for specific gravity at 60°F, API gravity, density, kinematic viscosity, flash points, fire points, pour points, and cloud point. All tests were carried out using standard procedures of American Society for testing and materials (ASTM) and the results obtained were compared with reference standards from Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) laboratory. The experimental results for PMS, AGO and DPK across sampled sales outlet for specific gravity ranged between 0.74 and 0.75, 0.82 and 0.84, 0.74 and 0.81 for API gravity; 48.1 and 79.1, 33.8 and 77.0, 41.5 and 59.5; for Kinematic viscosity; 1.11 and 3.08, 3.33 and 5.33, 1.30 and 3.19 for AGO's pour point; 2.50 and 4.60 for AGO and DPK flash point; 51and 93, 22 and 52 for AGO and DPK fire point; 22 and 52, 24 and 54 respectively. The paper posited that there was large deviation in most of the physio-chemical parameters studied on the samples gotten from the unlicensed sales outlet (black market) suggesting presence of adulterants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
