The Use of Diesel Oil Treated with Inorganic Salt: An Alternative to Kerosene

Abdulfatai Jimoh
Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Technology
Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect(s) of inorganic salts (potash and alum) on diesel
oil and the suitability of the mixture as an alternative to kerosene. Samples of diesel oil
were treated with different proportions of potash and alum. The resulting mixture was
then subjected to different physicochemical property analysis. The properties tested for
included: volatility, sulfur contents, aniline point, smoke point, flash point, density,
kinematics viscosity and color. All the tests were carried out using the American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The results obtained showed that the
treatment of diesel oil with alum and potash alter measured physicochemical properties
of diesel oil. Samples of diesel oil treated with potash showed a very little significant
change from properties of diesel oil, while that treated with alum produced higher
color and odor closer to that of kerosene. The overall analysis showed that the
properties of the diesel oil treated with both potash and alum do not have close values
compared to that of the kerosene, and it appeared to have serious technical limitations
to their use in domestic stores and lamps. Therefore, diesel oil treated with inorganic
salts is not suitable as an alternative to kerosene.

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