Volatility and physicochemical properties of gasoline-ethanol blends with gasoline RON-based 88, 90, and 92

A binary set of gasoline-ethanol (GE) blends from three types of gasoline's research octane number (RON), i.e., RON 88, RON 90, and RON 92, were formulated. Herein, the volatility characteristics, i.e., vapor pressure and distillation behavior were measured. Also, physiochemical properties, i.e., density and RON for each blend and oxygenating compounds influence from ethanol, were discussed. The obtained result revealed that the vapor pressure of GE blends is highly affected by non-ideal vapor-liquid equilibrium mixture. The initial boiling point of GE blends would gradually increase as the higher ethanol's concentration. However, the final boiling point of the GE blends never exceeds the final boiling point of the pristine gasoline, yet never less than the final boiling point of pristine ethanol. Furthermore, RON, oxygenate content, and density, showed a linear increment curve by increasing ethanol content on each gasoline type. Finally, the results showed that it might be advantageous to use ethanol to provide the added value of gasoline RON 88, RON 90, or RON 92 to form a new gasoline product by considering a confident RON and the limitations for high and low volatility.

Automated summary

The study found that the vapor pressure of GE blends is highly affected by non-ideal vapor-liquid equilibrium mixture, with the initial boiling point gradually increasing as the ethanol concentration rises. Additionally, the addition of ethanol leads to a linear increment in RON, oxygenate content, and density for each type of gasoline.