Gum and deposit formation in diesel fuels. Final report, 1984-1988

Technical Report · Sun May 15 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6918890

Mayo, F R; Mill, T

The authors examined two aspects of the stability of diesel fuels in storage: the formation of sediments in suspension, which subsequently clog filters, and the formation of soluble gum, which passes the filters but then forms hard deposits on hot engine parts. Research on fuel stability at SRI during the last 6 years has shown that soluble gum appears first on storage, and then part of it grows into sediment. If the oxidation mixture is agitated gently, the precipitating gum grows on the surface gum, and no loose sediment is formed. Three mechanisms of gum formation were distinguished: (1) a process intimately associated with chain propagation and termination during oxidation, (2) a coupling of fuel molecules by decomposing peroxides in the absence of oxygen, and (3) a condensation of naphthols and aldehydes from the oxidation of alkylnaphthalenes. The polymeric oxidation products from a JP-8 fuel are shown to be largely responsible for deposits in the Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Tester (JFTOT).

• Research Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6918890
• Report Number(s): AD-A-197169/6/XAB; SRI-PYU-7753
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
DIESEL FUELS
FOULING
ALDEHYDES
DEPOSITS
ENGINES
FUELS
GUMS
OXYGEN
PEROXIDES
POLYMERS
PROGRESS REPORT
SEDIMENTS
STABILITY
STORAGE
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
024000* - Petroleum- Storage- (-1989)
020500 - Petroleum- Products & By-Products