Department of Chemical Engineering Technology

CHE 2413 – Oil and gas processing technologies

Spring-2021

Lab 1: ASTM D611 Standard Test Methods for Aniline

Point and Mixed Aniline Point of Petroleum Products

Instructor: Dr. Muhammad Waqas Anjum / Hassan Saleemi

Group Members:
1. Huda Naser Alkhoori H00413783
2. Hamda Adel Almeraikhi H00373591
3. Mohammed Abdulhussain Al Marzooqi H00389171
4. Saif Abdulla Al Ali H00348661
Objective
To estimate the aniline point of different petroleum samples.

Introduction / Theory

Aniline: is an organic compound “aromatic coumpound” C6H5NH2 it has the smell of rotten fish like
other volatile amine, it ignites easily, it’s used for fine chemical synthesis and dyes. Aniline point: is the
lowest temperature at which a sample and aniline are completely miscible in equal volume. Mixed
aniline point: the minimum temperature required for anile mixture to form a solution. Aniline score
increased = increased molecular weight. The aniline point method for petroleum products is
specified as ASTM D611. A high aniline point indicates that the fuel has a high paraffinic content and
has a high diesel index, and excellent ignition quality. A low aniline point indicates a low diesel index
due to the high content of aromatic percentage. Aniline point function in the oil: It indicates the possible
breakdown of the rubber seal, fills, etc., on contact with the oil. Aniline point is used to provide an
estimate for the analysis of the aromatic hydrocarbon content of mixtures and to determine the quality and
quantity of diesel fuel, to assess the range of paraffinic and aromatic fuels. And it knows the ignition
delay, the diesel index, the cetane number of the power.

How to determine aniline point? By having Equal volumes of oil sample and aniline then, stirred
continuously and heated until the two samples combine into one solution “homogeneous”.
Diesel consists of paraffin and some aromatic substances. Aromatic hydrocarbons also show the lowest
values, while paraffin is of paramount importance because the auto-ignition temperature is low for
paraffin but high for aromatics. High aromatic contents refer to low point aniline due to aromatic
substances in the fuel causing ignition delay. Increasing diesel fuel reduces ignition delay and increases
energy cetane count. Aromatic hydrocarbons tend to contain some rubber, so the aromatic content is
desirable for the oil type. The high paraffin content increases the flammability activity.

Cetane number + fuel indicator = measurement of ignition delay, the time between injection and
start of fuel ignition.

Cetane number indicates the combustion speed of diesel. It’s also important to determine the quality of
diesel during compression ignition. Other factors as well can determine diesel quality such as density,
sulfur content, cold flow properties and lubricity.

Apparatus and materials

- K102XX Automatic Aniline point apparatus

- Aniline solvent
- Fuel samples
- Beaker
- Graduated cylinder (10ml)
- Glass funnel
Procedure
1. In a graduated cylinder measure 10ml of aniline and the fuel sample.
2. Transfer the samples and aniline in a beaker and mix them.
3. Inject the mixture into the pyrex test cell using the glass funnel.
Warning: do not turn the heater before adding the liquid
4. Turn the line switch (located on the lower right).
5. Turn on the motor switch.
6. Adjust the motor control to be between 50 and 70.
7. Turn on both heater switch and air valve switch.
8. Turn the heater control to the maximum.
9. Turn the light control (clockwise all the way).
10. Green light will be on. you can decrease light intensity until the red pilot light goes on (indicating the
heater is in operation).
11. Record the first temperature when the light blinks on the first time.
12. Take the second reading of temperature, when the light (green and red) blinks for same length of
time.

Digital temperature

Pyrex test cell

Light control
Motor control

Air valve control

Heater control

Figure 1. diesel and aniline (immiscible)

before heating, machine component
Observation and results

Miscibility temperature of aniline and sample (diesel) = 76.1 ˚C

Aniline point of the sample= 80.5˚C
Specific Gravity = 0.8482 (As per Literature)

141.5 141.5
API Gravity = – 131.5 API gravity = −131.5=35.323
Specific Gravity 0.8482

Aniline Point × API Gravity 80.5 ×35.323

Diesel Index = diesel index= =28.435
100 100

Cetane Number = Diesel Index – 3 CN =28.435−3=25.435

Miscibility temperature of aniline and sample (light gas oil) = 35 ˚C

Aniline point of the sample= 42˚C
Specific Gravity = 0.89 (As per Literature)

141.5 141.5
API Gravity = – 131.5 API gravity = −131.5=27.488
Specific Gravity 0.89

Aniline Point × API Gravity 42 ×27.488

Diesel Index = diesel index= =11.545
100 100

Cetane Number = Diesel Index – 3 CN =11.545−3=8.545

Lab based activities
Describe the relation between Aniline point and diesel index on quality of the fuel?

A high aniline point indicates that the fuel is high in paraffins thus, it has a high diesel index and excellent
ignition quality. While, the inverse is true, a low aniline point indicates a low diesel index (due to the high
percentage of aromatic substances).

What is the significance of Aniline Point measurement in petroleum and gas industry?

The importance of measuring the aniline point in the petroleum and gas industries, is because it gives the
measurement of the hydrocarbons content present in the petroleum sample. when the measured aniline
point is high, this indicates that the quality of the paraffin or aromatic fuel is low, and that it has a high
diesel index and better ignition properties.

Also, because it is important to check under which conditions and temperature the fuel will begin to ignite
and to prevent losses or damages. Moreover, high aniline point will increase CN hence, making it suitable
for use in diesel engine. This is the reasons why aniline test is done because it indicates whether the fuel
has a good ignition quality or not.

Aniline point also predicts the amount of Carbon present in terms of aromatics given by formula

%CA= 1039.4 n d20- 470.4 d20-0.567AP (°C) -1104.42

Where, nd20=refractive index at 20°C
d20 =density at 20°C

Use your experimental result to calculate the amount of Carbon in terms of percentage.

%CA (diesel)=1039.4 ( 1.45 )−470.4 ( 0.8482 )−0.567 ( 80.5 ) −1104.42=41.92 %

%CA (light gas oil)=1039.4 ( 1.49 ) −470.4 ( 0.89 ) −0.567 ( 42 ) −1104.42=1.816 %

Suppose you have five fuel samples named as: - diesel, petrol, kerosene, jet fuel and bio diesel.
Based on their aniline point arrange them in the descending order, write aniline point of each as
well.

Diesel = 71℃
Petrol = 65℃
Kerosene = 74℃
Jet fuel = 80℃
Bio diesel = 59.5℃
Jet fuel > kerosene > diesel > petrol > bio diesel

Discussion

After conducting the experiment, we got a value of 80.5℃ for diesel aniline point, and after looking up in
the internet we got that the actual reading for diesel aniline point is 71 ℃ .
80.5−71
%error( diesel)= 100=13.38 % error
71
We also got a value of 42℃ for light gas oil aniline point, and the actual value of light gas oil aniline
point is 36.8℃ .
42−36.8
%error(light gas oil)= 100=14.13 % error
36.8

So, after calculating the percent error for both samples it’s quite minimal precent and this is due to human
error such as not measuring exact equal amount of aniline and fuel sample and not observing the right
aniline point temperature. Also, machine and systematic errors plays role if machine is not calibrated
properly.

Moreover, after doing the experiment for both diesel and light gas oil we clearly observe that aniline point
of diesel is higher than light gas oil, which means diesel has better ignition properties due to the high
paraffinic percentage and high diesel index (27.488) as shown in the calculation above compared to light
gas oil (8.545).
 Figure1. diesel and aniline (immiscible) Figure 2. Light gas oil and aniline
(miscible)

Summary
The aniline point is the lowest temperature at which the volume of the aniline and sample are
miscible, indicating the type of hydrocarbon present in the fuel sample, and the lower the aniline
point, the higher the aromatic ratio which indicates low ignition properties and vice versa.

Miscible solutions will indicate low aniline point (light gas oil). In other hand, mixture that are
immiscible will show high aniline point and better quality of ignition. We have also, been able to
familiarize our self with Koehler Automatic Aniline point Apparatus and the way to run the
machine for the experiment.

Conclusion

In Conclusion, the objectives of this experiment is achieved by measuring the aniline point and knowing
the quality of fuel gas if it is a low or high aromatic fuel depending on the aniline point. When the aniline
point is higher than 40 °C, the aromatic percentage is low, illustrating the direct relationship between
aromaticity and temperature. The importance of the aniline point is also in telling us how to use the fuel
correctly because it’s risky to use fuel with low aniline point. And high aniline point is preferable and
desirable in chemical industry due to its high paraffinic content.

When there is low amount of aromatic compound found in the fuel sample, aniline will not combine to
form one solution (immiscible). Therefore, aniline point will increase. This increase in aniline point will
increase the diesel index which in turn increases the ignition properties of the fuel. Which will make the
fuel more suitable and desirable.

We can also improve aniline point by extraction with furfuraldehyde to decrease aromatic content in
petroleum products.

References
Aniline point test. (n.d.). Retrieved from oilfield glossary:
https://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/en/Terms/a/aniline_point_test.aspx
C, S. (n.d.). Aniline. Retrieved from science direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-
engineering/aniline
Kanna, R. (2017, March). Determination of Aniline Point of Petroleum Samples. Retrieved from research
gate:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315060217_Determination_of_Aniline_Point_of_Petrol
eum_Samples