Petrol [Gasoline]

Refining of Petrol
1) Straight run gasoline contains some undesirable straight chain hydrocarbons
(olefins) and sulphur compounds
2) The straight chain hydrocarbons gets easily oxidized and polymerized thereby
causing gum and sludge formation on staring
3) Sulphur compounds leads to corrosion of ICR engines. Thus gasoline /petrol has to
be refined by chemical treatment
Following methods are used for refining of petrol.
1) Treatment with H2SO4
1. In this method impure gasoline is agitated with cold 80% H 2SO4.
2. These mixtures do not react with parrafins, aromatics but react with olefins
forming alcohols and esters.
3. Then the H2SO4 layer is separated and gasoline after washing with NaOH
solution is redistilled.
2) Removal of impurities by adsorption
Olefins and colouring matter of gasoline are removed by percolation gasoline
through fullers earth (type of day) which adsorbs preferentially the colouring matter
and olefins
3) Stabilization of gasoline
The impure gasoline may contain dissolved gasses like methane ethaneand there
isomers. Removal of these impurities is known as stabilization of gasoline
4) Addition of Inhibitors
After refining of gasoline some inhibitors are added to retard oxidation of gasoline
which improves storing qualities of gasoline.
For removal of sulphur impurities following methods are used
1) Doctors Treatment
Na2 Pbo2
Sodium
Plum bite
Pb (SR) 2
Lead
Mercaptide

2 RSH
+ Mercaptene
+

S
Sulphur

Pb (SR) 2 + 2NaoH
lead
mercaptide
Pbs
lead
sulphide

+ RSSR
Disulfide

By this method Sulphur compounds which are not soluble in petrol are obtained and
thy are removed by treating with some other solvent.

2) Treatment with NaOCl

2 RSH
H2S

+ NaOCl
Sodium
Hypochlorite
+ NaOCl

NaCl +RSSR + H2O

NaCl + S + H2O

Unleaded Petrol
1) This is practically zero lead quantity gasoline supplied for motor fuels
2) In car exhaust if catalytic converter is connected then leaded petrol cannot be used
because it destroys the active site of catalyst
3) In catalytic converter two types of catalyst are used
a) Reduction Catalyst
b) Oxidation Catalyst
Catalyst helps to reduce harmful emission by following reactions
Reduction catalyst contain Pt or Rh which can reduce No x as
2NOx
N2+ xO2
Oxidation catalyst helps in treating unburnt hydrocarbons.
x
xCo2 + 2 O2
xCO2
xHC + xO2

x
x
H
O
+
2
2
2

CO2

Advantages of Unleaded Petrol

1) The use of unleaded petrol helps to reduce knocking in engines as it make use of
catalytic converters attached to exhaust in engines
2) Unleaded petrol does not contain lead which is heavy metal and very harmful
3) The octane value of unleaded petrol can be further addition of MIBE which supports
combustion also
4) Catalysts like Rhodium can also be used in unleaded petrol.