Gasoline Analysis

{ By: Travis Slaysman and Drew Landerman

Brainstorming  Urushiol extraction  Gasoline Comparison  Octane Rating

Methodology  Sample Acquisition  Standard Creation  Sample Dilution

Experimentation  Standard Running  Sample Running

Data Spectrum Development   Peak Determination Standard Cyclohexane Heptane Octane Nonane Decane Benzene Ethanol Toluene Formula C 6 H 12 C 7 H 16 C 8 H 18 C 9 H 20 C 10 H 22 C 6 H 6 C 2 H 6 O C 7 H 8 Boiling Point 80.7°C 98.4°C 125°C 151°C 174.1°C 80.1°C 78.4°C 110.6°C

Analysis  Peak Comparison  Mass Spec. Utilization  Sample Spectrum Comparison

 Octane Rating is based on comparison with the burning characteristics of a mixture of n- heptane and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (isooctane).

 Gasoline that isn’t formulated properly can lead to engine knocking and increase the incidence of incomplete combustion, resulting in increased carbon monoxide production.

Octane Rating Formulation

Decane in Cyclohexane

Cyclohexane

Octane in Cyclohexane

Toluene in Cyclohexane

Hydrocarbon Hexane Heptane Octane Nonane Decane Benzene Toluene Cyclohexane 1,2,4-Trimethyl benzene 1,2,3,5-tetramethyl benzene o-xylene & p-xylene Retention Time (min)

2.561

1.916

2.35

4.212

5.275

4.113

2.609

1.829

~4.82

~5.79

~5.2

Retention Times

 Volatile organic sample evaporation  Purity of the reagents we used  Mass Spec Utilization Sources of Error

Conclusions     As the octane rating went up, the alkane concentrations became smaller, as we expected. Toluene, Benzene and related compounds became more concentrated as octane rating went up.

Cyclohexane was also increasing in concentration as the octane rating went up.

Royal Farms seemed to have cleaner chromatograms than Wawa did, this could be due to possible detergents and other additives put in the gasoline.