Liquid Scintillation Counting Method for the Refinery Laboratory-Based Measurements of Fuels to Support Refinery Bio-Feed Co-Processing

A new method based on liquid scintillation counting (LSC) was developed to determine the biocarbon content in liquid fuels via radiocarbon analysis. The method has a simple and straightforward procedure that requires no sample preparation, making it well suited for use in a refinery laboratory setting. Using the gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel blends made from renewable naphtha and diesel in petroleum (ranging from 0.5 to 100%), we demonstrate that moderately colored samples and sample luminescence do not influence the accuracy, nor does the method require any additional sample preparation. Statistical analysis of the data shows a very good correlation between the LSC method and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), with a sub 1% biocarbon detection limit for the LSC method.

Automated summary

The new method based on liquid scintillation counting is able to accurately determine the biocarbon content in liquid fuels without the need for sample preparation, showing a very good correlation with accelerator mass spectrometry. The method has a detection limit below 1% for biocarbon, making it suitable for use in a refinery laboratory setting.