Method for Measuring Peroxide Concentration in Hydrocarbon Fuels (170) 

Researchers at the University of Dayton Research Institute have developed a simple technique to measure the concentration of peroxides in hydrocarbon fuels and other organic liquids. Both hand-held and computer-based devices have been developed to perform the Peroxide in Fuel Evaluation Concentration Technique (PERFECT). The PERFECT can be performed either in the laboratory or in the field. The PERFECT has recently been approved as ASTM Method D6447-99, "Hydroperoxide Number of Aviation Turbine Fuels by Voltammetric Analysis" to replace the current ASTM Method D3703-85, "Standard Test Method for Peroxide Number of Aviation Turbine Fuels." ASTM Method D6447-99 is included in the Air Force jet fuel specification.

The PERFECT is based on the ability of a voltammetric method to rapidly quantitate the iodine that is produced when a reaction mixture is shaken with a milliliter sample of fuel or other organic liquid in a small vial. Other peroxide tests require tedious titrations to quantitate the produced iodine and produce liter quantities of wastes containing the chlorinated solvent.

The applications of the PERFECT are as varied as the organic fluids used in industry. The PERFECT has been used to quantitate the accumulation of peroxides in jet and diesel fuels (peroxides damage elastomeric engine components), in cooking oils (peroxides cause off-flavor of food products), in stamping lubricants (peroxides cause sludge buildup on press), and catalyst solution (peroxides needed to initiate polymerization reactions).

U.S Patent No. 5,480,808 covering this technology issued January 2, 1996.

For more information, please contact the Office for Technology Partnerships at 937-229-3515.

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