The Analysis of Gasoline and Blended Fuels by an Integrated Methods Approach

Abstract

The analysis of gasoline at three levels of complexity — research, process development, and quality control, is reviewed. Present methods including mass spectrometry and capillary gas chromatography are discussed. The author concludes that advances in analytical techniques are being delayed by the absence of pure standards and a lack of component resolution. He recommends that consideration be given to integrated methods which could split the analyst's effort into two major parts: (1) perfection of unit laboratory techniques, and (2) fabrication of computer program packages which will (a) interpret the engineer's needs in terms of an analytical route, (b) calculate results by preferred techniques, and (c) present the data in a form immediately usable to the engineer.