ME 420 MW 1:30 – 4:30 Date Submitted: April 2, 2018

Experiment No. 5

Distillation Test of Natural Gasoline

Group Number: 10 Members: Du, Jul Ivid R.

Navales, Dwight C.

I. INTRODUCTION

A process called distillation is used to separate mixtures based on the conditions

allotted of the mixture to change its phase (from liquid to gas). Petroleum products such
as diesel, kerosene, etc. are not pure compounds, meaning that they are mixtures of
different types of hydrocarbons. In distillation, petroleum products are distilled at
different temperatures to attain different products in which the producer wishes.

II. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Generally, petroleum products are not pure compounds but are mixture or
different types of hydrocarbons. Each of these hydrocarbons has its own different boiling
point, which causes petroleum products to distill at varying temperatures.

Distillation measures the percentage of petroleum products, which will vaporize

at various temperatures. The distillation range describes the tendency of the product to
vaporize at different temperatures.

In doing distillation in liquids, the liquid should be heated to reach its boiling
point, and with that, its phase will change to a gaseous state. Then, the vapor is then
placed to the condenser to return to liquid state and collected. The collected liquid is the
outcome of the process of distillation, and the residues left are the byproducts of
distillation.
 For petroleum oils, distillation is a tedious and critical process since it is where
different petroleum products are being collected. Petroleum is a mixture of different
hydrocarbon compounds of unlike boiling points. The differences in boiling points make
distillation a very beneficial method in separating the hydrocarbon compounds.

III. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

1. Flask – used to contain the sample of used oil

2. Condenser and cooling bath – used to condense evaporated compounds
3. Shied – used to contain the heat of the Bunsen burner when heating the flask
4. Bunsen burner – used to heat the flask with natural gasoline
5. Flask support – used to hold the flask in position
6. Graduated cylinder – used to measure the volume of fluids used
7. Thermometer – used to measure the temperature

IV. METHODOLOGY

1. The condenser bath was filled up with ice. The vapor produced from the flask was
converted into a liquid state.
2. The graduated cylinder was positioned at the exhaust spout of the condenser bath.
This is where the condensed distillate will pass through.
3. A 100 mL sample was measured a in a 100 mL graduated cylinder and transfered into
the distillation flask.
4. The thermometer was fitted tightly into the distillation flask using a cork.
5. The flask was placed in an asbestos infused wire gauze and was heated using the
Bunsen burner.
6. The outlet spout was attached to the distillation flask with the inlet spout of the
condenser bath.
7. Heat it continuously until the bottom of the flask is dry.
8. The total volume of distillate collected was observed.
9. The same process was repeated for the processed used vegetable oil.
 Figure 4.1 From left to right: Condenser and cooling bath with ice & flask with used
oil sample

V. DATA & RESULTS

For Raw Used Vegetable Oil:

Table 5.1: Data for Distilled Raw Used Vegetable Oil

Initial Boiling Point 91˚C
Distillate Volume 20 mL
End Point (maximum temperature) 283˚C
Volume Recovery (volume of the distillate 2 mL
collected)
Residue Volume (volume of the distillate 0.8 mL
collected when cool)
Distillation Loss (the difference between 17.2 mL
distillate volume to the sum of the recovery
and the residue)
For Processed Used Vegetable Oil:

Table 5.2: Data for Processed Used Vegetable Oil

Initial Boiling Point 88˚C

Distillate Volume 20 mL
End Point (maximum temperature) 290˚C
Volume Recovery (volume of the distillate 1.7 mL
collected)
Residue Volume (volume of the distillate 1 mL
collected when cool)
Distillation Loss (the difference between 17.3 mL
distillate volume to the sum of the recovery
and the residue)

For Biodiesel (90% Processed Used Vegetable Oil – 10% Diesel Fuel):

Table 5.3: Data for Distilled Biodiesel

Initial Boiling Point 78˚C

Distillate Volume 20 mL
End Point (maximum temperature) 298˚C
Volume Recovery (volume of the distillate 3 mL
collected)
Residue Volume (volume of the distillate 1.5 mL
collected when cool)
Distillation Loss (the difference between 15.5 mL
distillate volume to the sum of the recovery
and the residue)
VI. CONCLUSION
An initial boiling point of the three sample was recorded in the table. This indicates
that these sample starts to evaporate at this temperature. In this climate, if an engine is
exposed under the heat of the sun with no convection current to counter the radiative heat
gain it will eventually reach the said temperature range causing the gasoline in the engine to
evaporate.

As shown by the data above, the biodiesel had the largest amount of volume recovery
which is 3 mL (total volume of the distillate collected in the receiving), this volume recovery
has a maximum boiling point (end point) of 298˚C. This converts the biodiesel into gaseous
products and increases the fluidity of the remaining liquid. The raw vegetable oil had the
least amount of volume recovery this is because it is heavier than the other two sample, it
contains some chemical from cooked foods. This makes the raw vegetable oil would have
eventually slowly distilled. And also it had the least initial boiling point it takes longer time
to distill compared to the other two samples.

The tubing that connected the distillation flask to the condenser bath was not sealed
properly which led to vapor escaping through the tubes. As shown by the data above, the
biodiesel had the greatest amount of distillation loss because biodiesel boils faster than the
other two sample it had an initial boiling point of (78˚C) and also had the highest boiling
point.

VII. RECOMMENDATION

1. Make sure that the distillation flask and the condenser bath connection is sealed
tightly to avoid vapor from escaping the tubing.

2. Make sure that the condenser bath is sealed properly and no cracks are found in the
condenser bath.

VIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. https://www.astm.org/Standards/D216.htm
2. http://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-1939-THESIS-T672
3. http://www.fillanddrive.bg/cms/rompetrol_companie/products/pdf/liquid_fuels/Natural
%20Gasoline.pdf