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PUBLICATIONS

Direct Measurement of Trace Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Diesel Fuel with 1H and 13C NMR Spectroscopy: Effect of PAH Content on Fuel Lubricity

Published

Author(s)

Peter Y. Hsieh, Jason Widegren, Andrew Slifka, Andrew J. Hagen, Ronald A. Rorrer

Abstract

Surface-active trace compounds present in diesel fuels protect pumps and injectors against premature wear through boundary lubrication. Due to the vast number of hydrocarbon compounds found in petroleum distillate fuels, it is difficult to measure the concentration of trace lubricity-enhancing compounds in neat diesel fuel samples. We report herein the direct measurement of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in diesel fuels through 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and relate the presence of PAH with fuel lubricity measured with a high-frequency reciprocating rig. Carboxylic acids and nitrogen heterocyclic PAH were not detected in the diesel fuels tested. The data provide further evidence that surface-active PAH compounds improve the lubricity of diesel fuels.
Citation
Energy & Fuels
Volume
29
Issue
7
Pub Type
Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b01193
Local Download

Keywords

complex fluids, diesel fuel, high-frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR) testing, lubricity, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
Transportation, Fuels and Analytical chemistry

Citation

Hsieh, P. , Widegren, J. , Slifka, A. , Hagen, A. and Rorrer, R. (2015), Direct Measurement of Trace Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Diesel Fuel with 1H and 13C NMR Spectroscopy: Effect of PAH Content on Fuel Lubricity, Energy & Fuels, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b01193, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=918200 (Accessed October 8, 2025)

Issues

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Created June 17, 2015, Updated September 29, 2025
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