Table-1: Potential Adulterants for Gasoline (MS)
<center> <table border="1" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="1" width="643"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#66ccff"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> SL.
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Solvent/Chemical
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Source
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> Basic Cost (Rs.) KL/MT
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> Market Price(Rs.)*
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 1
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Naphtha
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Refineries
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 14950
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 2
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> SBP
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> BPCL
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 13500+32% Exise+ST
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> 20/lt
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 3
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> GAIL Solvents
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Bijalpur
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 12000+32% Exise+ST
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> 17-19/lt
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 4
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> GAIL Solvents
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Pata
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 12000+32% Exise+ST
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> 16-18/lt
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 5
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Pentane
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> GAIL
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 10000+16% Exise+ST
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> 14-16/lt
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 6
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Cixon
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> IPCL
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 12000
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 7
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Solvent-90
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> IOC
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 26400
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> 30-32/lt
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 8
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Hexane
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Refineries
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 13500+32% Exise+ST
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> 20-24/lt
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 9
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Resol
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Reliance
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 11000
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 10
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Raffinate/Slop
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Refineries
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> NA
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 11
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> C6-C9 Raffinate
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Petrochemicals
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> NA
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 12
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Naphtha/NGL
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> GAIL/ONGC
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 13760
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 13
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> PDS Kerosene
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Govt.
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 5000
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> 7000/KL
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 14
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Free Kerosene
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Parallel Marketers
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 14500
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 15
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> MTO
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Refineries
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 16588
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> 20-21/lt
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 16
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Pyrolysis Gasoline
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Naptha Crack
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> NA
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 17
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Oxygenates
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Refineries
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 15000
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 18
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Food grd. Hexane
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Refineries
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> NA
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 19
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Benzene
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Koyali
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 25937.6+32% Exise+ST
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> 27-29/lt
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 20
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="25%"> Toluene
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="15%"> Koyali
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 27376.6
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="22%"> 28-30/lt
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> *-Prevailing price (Approx.) in Delhi & Mumbai as on November 2000. </center> Source: Report of MoPNG Task Force to examine the use of solvent, raffinate and slop in automobile fuel.



Table-2: Potential Adulterants for Diesel (HSD)
<table border="1" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="1" width="624"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#66ccff"> <td height="45" valign="TOP" width="9%"> SL.
</td> <td height="45" valign="TOP" width="24%"> Solvent/Chemical
</td> <td height="45" valign="TOP" width="16%"> Source
</td> <td height="45" valign="TOP" width="29%"> Basic Cost (Rs.)
KL/MT
</td> <td height="45" valign="TOP" width="23%"> Market Price
(Rs.)*
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 1
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="24%"> Aromex
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="16%"> Digboi
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 15254+ Excise+ST
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="23%"> 22/lt
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 2
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="24%"> Iomex
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="16%"> NA
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> NA
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="23%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 3
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="24%"> C9 Raffinate
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="16%"> Ptrochmcls
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 10000
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="23%"> NA
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 4
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="24%"> MTO
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="16%"> Refineries
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 12560
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="23%"> 20-21/lt
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 5
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="24%"> PDS Kerosene
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="16%"> Govt.
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 5000
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="23%"> 7000/KL
</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td valign="TOP" width="9%"> 6
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="24%"> Free Kerosene
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="16%"> Parallel Marketers
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="29%"> 14500
</td> <td valign="TOP" width="23%"> NA
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
*-Prevailing price (Approx.) in Delhi & Mumbai as on November 2000.

7.0 STATUS OF FUEL ADULTERATION IN INDIA
As mentioned earlier adulteration of transport fuels at the point of sale and transportation has become a routine problem in India. There are several petroleum products available in our country, which are close substitute of gasoline and diesel, but are available at considerable lower prices. The price differential is usually in the range of Rs. 8 to 20 in case of petrol and Rs. 5 to 12 in case of diesel. Since kerosene is usually considered as poor man's fuel, Govt. of India has been subsidizing it for public distribution for several years. The subsidy on PDS kerosene during 2000-01 is estimated to be around Rs. 7500 crores. It is common knowledge that significant portion of this subsidized kerosene is being diverted for adulterating diesel. Several studies /survey carried out recently have together pointed out towards alarming rise in the cases of fuel adulteration in our country and some of them are as below:
» Tata Consultancy has conducted an extensive survey on the kerosene distribution pattern within the country. They arrived at the conclusion that more than 30% of Kerosene distribution intended for household consumption through PDS outlets flowed back to industry in one form or the other. This was a clear indication towards the flourishing business of adulteration in our country.
» According to Anti Adulteration Cell of India, Naphtha is a commonly used adulterant for gasoline. The modus operandi is to import the product in huge quantity and divert it for adulteration. In a major seizure a few days ago, the Cell detected import of naphtha through the Mangalore port allegedly for adulteration of auto fuels in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. The intention was to import and move the products to a factory in Pondicherry, where it got blended with other adulterant chemicals. Following the investigation, the Cell sealed 82 kL of naphtha, 31 kL of other products along with plant and machinery allegedly used for adulteration.
» Similarly a case of adulteration has also been reported from Uttar Pradesh in the city of Meerut, where an authorized transport company was caught with adulterated stock. This transport agency had the authority to transport both petrol & diesel to retail outlets and solvents for industrial use. The agency was supposedly using its workplace for adulterating diesel with kerosene.
» According to a news in "The Times of India", the State Government of Maharastra loses a whopping Rs. 81 lakh and Rs. 75.6 lakh every month on account of combined sales & excise tax revenue against petrol and diesel adulteration in Mumbai city alone. This is believed to be 10 percent of the genuine sale, industry source reveal.

» Various estimates have been made of the extent of financial loss to the national exchequer as well as the oil companies as a result of diversion of PDS kerosene, use of off-spec, low value, hydrocarbons mixed with petrol and diesel, evasion of sales tax etc. Although these estimates vary over a wide range, it is safe to assume that the nation is losing at least Rs. 10,000 crores annually as a result of adulteration of fuel. If to this is added the social costs as a result of environmental pollution, damage to vehicles and other engines, etc., the loss could be substantially higher.
» With the plethora of foreign car manufacturers making a beeline to set up manufacturing facilities in the country, their first and immediate concern is the quality of petrol that gets supplied to the users' cars. They have uniformly found that supplies are heavily adulterated and particularly the Octane content is much lower than the specification value of 87%.
» Recently under the direction of the Supreme Court, Environment Pollution Control Authority (E PCA) through a local NGO (CSE) carried out tests of fuel samples from retails outlets and other points. The results of the study reveal 8.3 % sample failure of the sample tested against 1-2 percent reported by oil companies in the past. The study further reveals that adulterated fuel in intelligent mix allowed retail outlets to reap a profit of more than Rs 25, 000 a day.

11.0 INDIAN INITIATIVES TO CONTROL FUEL ADULTERATION
It is necessary to dispense auto fuels of the right quality to achieve the targeted emissions from vehicles. Therefore, adulteration of auto fuels should be discouraged in all its forms. Off late India has also taken some initiatives to tackle this problem. As per the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) following Steps have been undertaken to control Adulteration of Fuel in the country:
(a) The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has caused oil companies takes various steps listed below to detect/ prevent adulteration of MS/HSD at retail outlets: -
» Filter paper Test,
» Furfural doping of PDS Kerosene,
» Density checks,
» Blue dyeing of kerosene,
» Regular/surprise Inspection of retail outlets,
» Joint inspection of retail outlets by the industry teams,
» Regular /surprise inspection by mobile laboratories,
» Special vigilance drives, etc.
(b) Further, in order to prevent diversion of kerosene meant for distribution under PDS for adulteration, MoPNG has directed the oil companies to ensure upliftment by the wholesalers as under:
» 60% by 10th of the month
» 25% during next week, and
» Balance 15% during the following week.
(c) MoPNG has also advised State/UT Government from time to time
» To ensure upliftment of kerosene by the whole-sellers from oil companies as per upliftment pattern mentioned above.
» To identify loopholes in the distribution system.
» To review scale of distribution of kerosene to various cardholders, with regard to factors as availability of alternative fuels.
» To discontinue allocation of kerosene to the cardholders having double LPG connection and to discontinue allocation of kerosene for uses other than cooking and illumination.
(d) MS/HSD control order has been amended for providing testing of MS/HSD for various parameters of specification apart from density like Octane No. of MS, Cetane No. of HSD, and any other parameter of MS/HSD specification indicated in the order.
(e) The state Govt. authorities are empowered under the MS/HSD control order to conduct inspections at the retail outlets and take appropriate action against the erring dealers in case of any mal-practices/irregularities detected.
(f) MoPNG has also amended the kerosene control order making it mandatory for the parallel marketers to file end use certificate from their industrial customers.
(g) An independent fuel-testing laboratory has been set up at Noida as directed by Hon'ble Supreme court and as desired by EPCA for testing of samples drawn from retail outlets in the NCT/NCR.
(h) MoPNG have issued two control orders namely (i) the solvent, Raffinate and Slop (acquisition, sale, storage and prevention of use in automobile) order, 2000 in order to prevent unauthorized usage of these products for adulteration of MS/HSD at retail outlets.
(i) In addition to above, following measures are at advanced stage of implementation to prevent adulteration of MS/HSD: -
» Oil companies are undertaking trial of various marker systems to detect/prevent adulteration of MS/HSD.
» Oil companies are examining the feasibility of replacing the existing sealing system for the tanks carrying MS/HSD with Assa Abloy Security locking system in order to prevent en-route adulteration f MS/HSD by transportation /Tank truck crew.
» MoPNG has directed the oil companies to increase the number of mobile laboratories.
» Oil companies are setting up a number of laboratories equipped with facilities like CFR engines to test octane /cetane number of MS/HSD sample etc all over the country.
(j) Following methods are practiced for checking kerosene adulteration in MS:
» Filter paper test
» ASTM Distillation
However, both these methods are qualitative in nature and detection of low level of adulteration with SKO is not possible. For this IOCL (R&D) has done substantial work and based on the findings, addition of 20-ppm furfural was recommended.
(k) A method using GC as a powerful laboratory -based tool for detecting hydrocarbon-based adulteration was suggested. In this original GC Finger prints (chromatogram) on as many potential base fuels (pure fuels) such as automotive gasoline, diesel fuels and kerosene were essential .The approach was to generate chromatogram of the fuels procured from the market and than to compare the same against the chromatogram of the so called pure fuel for the hydrocarbons like hexane, heptane, etc. Any deviation in the concentration of hexane, heptane, etc in the fuel amounted to adulteration. However this method of detection of adulteration was later declared to be erroneous, arbitrary and irrelevant as it is claimed that there is nothing like pure gasoline, kerosene and diesel. Typically any of these fuels can be blended with different hydrocarbon streams of refinery meeting the product specifications characteristics as per relevant Indian and International norms.

» United States of America (USA)
In USA there are two systems. USEPA carries out tests on spot basis. During the complete lead phase out much vigil was kept and heavy fines were imposed for adulterated unleaded gasoline with leaded gasoline. The automobile manufacturers association conducts regular survey to assure proper fuel quality for the required performance of the vehicles.

BQ-9000^® helps companies improve their fuel testing and greatly reduce any chance of producing or distributing inadequate fuel. To receive accreditation, companies must pass a rigorous review and inspection of their quality control processes by an independent auditor. This ensures that quality control is fully implemented.