Liquid chromatographic method for analysing the colour marker Solvent Yellow 124, N-ethyl-N-[2-(1-isobutoxyethoxy)ethyl](4-phenylazophenyl)amine, in diesel fuels

Abstract This paper describes a liquid chromatographic method for analysing the colour marker Solvent Yellow 124 in diesel fuels. The method is robust and can easily be adapted by a routine laboratory; the throughput of samples can be as high as 180 samples per day, with a minimum of sample pretreatment. The coefficient of variation is 5.2% for a diesel fuel containing 5 mg/l of the coloured marker dye. An application of this method for analysing uncombusted residues from diesel engines and oil-fired boilers is also described.