Brazilian gasoline quality: Study of adulteration by statistical analysis and gas chromatography

Abstract

The addition of organic solvents (heavy aliphatic, light aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons) in Brazilian gasoline is unfortunately very frequent, and this illicit practice does not guarantee gasoline quality. Organic solvent adulterations of gasoline samples have been investigated. For characterization and comparison of these samples, physico-chemical parameters were selected as the factor for hierarchic multivariate analysis (Cluster Analysis). However, these parameters are not efficient to detected all kinds of adulteration. Gas Chromatographic (GC) analysis can be used as a procedure to improve the detection of adulterated gasoline. More detailed information of their compositions was revealed. The use of physico-chemical properties of gasoline samples for hierarchic multivariate analysis and gas chromatographic fingerprints is a practicable method to adulteration detection. ©2005 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.