Diesel fuel adulteration issues in Nigeria

Title : Diesel fuel adulteration issues in Nigeria

Abstract:

The non-standard refining and sale of adulterated diesel fuel is a major challenge facing the people of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.  This problem is associated with engine performance issues, environmental pollution and loss of substantial revenue to the government. Adulteration detection in diesel fuels is very complex because the adulterants are compounds that are already present in the fuels. For this study, six different samples of non-standard refined diesel fuel were collected from local refineries in the creeks of the Niger Delta and a sample from government retail outlet. The samples were analysed for their physiochemical properties such as density, cetane index, distillation properties of the fuel, flash point, pour point, Kinematic viscosity, calorific value and water content. An Agilent 7890B coupled to an Agilent 5977B Mass Selective Detector was used to determine the concentration of Volatile Organic Compounds (benzene, toluene, m-Xylene, p-Xylene and o-Xylene) in each sample whilst a LECO CHN628 was used to determine the elemental analysis of the samples. The results indicate a large fluctuation in physicochemical properties. The flash point of all non-standard refined samples was below 30?C, while the commercial diesel from government retail outlet had a flash point of 65.5?C. All locally refined samples had very high pour points and a very high concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOC) compared to commercial diesel fuel from the government retail outlet.  All test were carried out according to ASTM designations D975-19a, ASTM D6304-A, ASTM D5950, ASTM D4057-18, IP 123, IP 365, 1P380 and IP 71

Biography:

Oyinkepreye Lucky Bebeteidoh studied Marine Engineering at the Rivers State University, Nigeria where he graduated with a BSc in 1997. He worked in the private sector as a marine engineer from 1998 through to 2008. In August 2008 he joined the Niger Delta University, Nigeria as a Principal Engineer in the Estate Department. In 2012 he proceeded to Coventry University in the United Kingdom where he obtained his MSc in 2013. On his return back home he converted to the Academic cadre, where he became a Lecturer in the Department of Marine Engineering. He is presently studying for his PhD in Marine Technology at Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.