Study on the Characterization of Oxidative Degradation of Automotive Gasoline

Gasoline generates organic acid and polymer (gum) by hydrocarbon oxidation depending on the storage environment such as temperature and exposure to sunlight, which can cause metal corrosion, rubber and resin degradation and vehicle malfunction caused by accumulation in fuel supply system. The gasoline which has not been used for a long time in bi-fuel (LPG-Gasoline) vehicle causes problems, and low octane number gasoline have evaporated into the field, but the exact cause has not been studied yet. In this study, we suggest a plan of quality management by investigating the gasoline oxidation behavior. In order to investigate the oxidation behavior of gasoline, changes of gasoline properties were analyzed at various storage conditions such as storage time, storage vessel type (vehicle fuel tank, PE vessel and Fe vessel) and storage circumstances (sunlight exposure and open system, etc.). Currently distributing gasoline and bioethanol blended fuel (blended 10%) were stored for 18 weeks in summer season. The sample stored in PE vessel was out of quality standard (octane number, vapor pressure, etc.) due to the evaporation of the high octane number and low boiling point components through the vessel cap and surface. Especially, the sunlight exposure sample stored in PE vessel showed rapid decrease of vapor pressure and increase of gum. Bioethanol blended fuel showed similar results as gasoline.