Laserfiche WebLink
WATER & HAZARDOUS WASTE LABORATORY CERTIFIED by CALIFORNIA DEPT of HEALTH SER\''C:S <br /> CHARACTERIZATIONS OF FUELS AND FUEL SPILLS <br /> by <br /> Stephen C. Hovlicek, Ph.D. <br /> Vice President <br /> CENTRAL COAST ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC. <br /> August 1988 <br /> .� INTRODUCTION <br /> Hydrocarbon distillates, residuums and crude oils are items of commerce and <br /> therefore have a significant opportunity for release into the environment. The <br /> first section of this document begins with a definition of some of the <br /> hydrocarbon products in commercial use. The second section discusses changes <br /> in the composition of hydrocarbon materials upon release into the environment <br /> while the third section describes sampling and analytical considerations. <br /> DEFINITIONS <br /> Gasoline is a mixture of low boiling hydrocarbons suitable for use in a <br /> � spark-ignited internal combustion engine and having an octane rating of at <br /> least 60. Major components are branched chain saturated hydrocarbons, <br /> alicyclic hydrocarbons, and aromatic hydrocarbons. Over 200 individual <br /> gasoline components may be separated from one another during a high resolution <br /> gas chromatographic analysis. The typical hydrocarbon range is C-4 through <br /> C-12. Unleaded gasolines often have a higher proportion of aromatic <br /> hydrocarbons than do leaded gosolines. Aviation gasolines hove a higher octane <br /> than do automotive gosolines and therefore often contain a still higher <br /> proportion of aromatics. Tetraethyl and tetromethyl lead are added to leaded <br /> gasoline in order to boost the octane. If these additives are used as octane <br /> boosters, ethylene dibromide and/or ethylene dichloride are often added to <br /> promote removal of the lead from the engine. Methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) is <br /> now preferred as an octane booster because it does not contain any lead. <br /> Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTX or BTX & EB) are major <br /> components which are of special environmental interest. Appendix H from the <br /> Leaking Underground Fuel Tank (LUFT) field manual provides a detailed list of <br /> the components of a typical gasoline. <br /> Diesel #2 (automotive diesel) is comprised chiefly of unbranched saturated <br /> ,r hydrocarbons together with minor amounts of olicyclics, unsoturotes and some <br /> aromatic hydrocarbons. It is a straight-run or crocked petroleum distillate <br /> with o typical hydrocarbon range of C-8 through C-27. It is used in atomizing <br /> burners which spray the fuel into a combustion chamber where the tiny droplets <br /> burn while in suspension. BTX & EB are minor components but can nevertheless <br /> reach levels of concern as dissolved components in groundwater which has been <br /> In contact with Diesel M2. An in-house listing of typical hydrocarbon <br /> components is appended. <br /> u <br /> CENTRAL COAST ANALYTICAL SERVICES Son Luis Otisoo, Califorrio (2C5) 543-2!53 <br />