Microwave Digestion and ICP AES Evaluation of Metal Concentrations in #2 Diesel and Biodiesel.  Keegan Duff; Andrew Kiemnec; Brian Knight. Oregon State University

Integrated Laboratory Experiment.  2006.

Abstract:

The combustion of diesel fuels releases diesel particulate matter (DPM) into the environment. DPM is known to have adverse health effects on humans, and although metals only contribute as a minor component of DPM, they are known to contribute to the adverse health effects. Knowledge of the concentration of specific metals in diesel and biodiesel will give information toward the source of metal-introduction in the formation of metal-bound DPM, and this information may be useful in determining the source of symptoms related to metal absorption in respiratory tissue. A microwave digestion procedure and argon inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) were used to prepare and analyze for metal concentration in Chevron Ultra synthesized by Duff. The commercial fuel samples yielded higher values for Ca, Fe, Mg. Mo, and Na ranging from 0.5-50 PPM. However, the canola methyl ester had a ppb Ni concentration not observed in Sequential biodiesel and a higher ppb Mn concentration than both of the commercial samples.