George W. Mushrush

Nitrogen compound distribution in middle distillate fuels derived from petroleum, oil shale, and tar sand sources

Nitrogen compounds present in crude sources constitute serious problems both for producers and consumers. For producers, these compounds are responsible for poisoning catalysts during the refining processes. For consumers, these compounds are responsible for the degradation observed in fuels during storage and handling. The quality of petroleum, as measured by °API gravity, continues to decrease in quality. This, coupled with the inevitable use of other crude sources, if used in quantity will further decrease the stability of middle distillate fuels. In this article we present our method for the separation and quantitation of the slate of nitrogen compounds present in middle distillate fuels derived from petroleum, oil shale and tar sand sources. Results from our laboratory indicate that of all of the nitrogen compounds present in middle distillate fuels, the indole type structure is the most deleterious.

An environmentally benign soybean derived fuel as a blending stock or replacement for home heating oil.

The use of bio-derived materials both as fuels and/or as blending stocks becomes more attractive as the price of middle distillate fuels, especially home heating oil, continues to rise. Historically, many biomass and agricultural derived materials have been suggested. One of the most difficult problems encountered with home heating oil is that of storage stability. High maintenance costs associated with home heating oil are, in large part, because of this stability problem. In the present research, Soygold®, a soybean derived fuel, was added in concentrations of 10% – 20% to both a stable middle distillate fuel and an unstable home heating oil. Fuel instability in this article will be further related to the organo nitrogen compounds present. The soy-fuel mixtures proved stable, and the addition of the soy liquid enhanced both the combustion properties, and dramatically improved the stability of the unstable home heating oil.

CHARACTERIZATION AND STABILITY PROPERTIES OF POLAR EXTRACTS DERIVED FROM A RECENT SHALE LIQUID

ABSTRACT A shale fuel of marginal stability has been used as a source of nitrogen-rich polar extracts. Polar compounds were isolated by mild acid extraction followed by silica gel adsorption and were identified by GC/HS. Alkyl substituted pyridines were the prevalent class of compounds present in most extracts. The effects of adding these shale derived fractions as dopants to a stable shale diesel fuel (0-11) were examined in terms of sediment formation and peroxide number under accelerated storage stability test conditions. The activities of the extracts in inducing fuel instability were correlated with their composition.

Determination of liquid and solid phase composition in partially frozen middle distillate fuels

Abstract A liquid-solid separator apparatus was constructed and a method developed for the separation and characterization (g.c.-m.s.) of the crystals and liquid from partially frozen middle distillate fuels. The filtrate data were straightforward, but the precipitate presented problems in interpretation since the waxy crystals entrapped significant amounts of liquid. Since it was not possible to remove all of the entrapped liquid from the precipitate, an indirect method was derived to determine the composition of the liquid-free crystalline material. This required that the fraction of entrapped liquid in the precipitate be known, which could be determined from the g.c. data. Tracer materials in the original fuel were selected which did not crystallize out at the temperatures under study and therefore showed no appreciable concentration change with temperature. These tracer materials were used to estimate the fraction of entrapped liquid in the precipitate. Results obtained by this technique were tested and confirmed by h.p.l.c.

Instability Reactions and Recycled Soybean-Derived Biodiesel Fuel Liquids

Abstract It has been suggested that renewable energy sources be considered as replacements or diluents for middle distillate ground transportation fuels. It is vital for the operational considerations of these fuels to investigate the many positives and negatives that this use could prompt. In proposing such a replacement, considerations must be given to the many problems that could arise. Problems to be studied include fuel storage stability, fuel solubility, and oxidative stability. Unlike newly manufactured soy oils, it was found that this recycled soy oil was not stable in fuels. The question was, what in the recycled oil led to the observed fuel degradation.

Reliability of inexpensive charcoal and alpha-track radon monitors

A comparison between single short-term radon measurements and annual radon measurements in basements shows that significant uncertainties should be associated with the short-term measurements. Activated charcoal radon monitors which measure radon over a 3 to 7 day interval yield measurements that should carry a ± 90% uncertainty in terms of estimating annual radon concentration. Alpha-track radon monitors which measure radon over a 3 month interval should carry a ± 30% uncertainty. Decisions about home purchases, home remediation and the development of risk characterizations may often be incorrect if currently popular but unrealistically low estimates of uncertainty are applied to short-term radon measurements. Optimal results are obtained from year-long alpha-track measurements.

Soil radon, permeability, and indoor radon prediction

Attempts to predict which geographic areas should be associated with a high percentage of homes with unusually high indoor radon levels have been based on estimates of soil radon and soil permeability for geological units. In northern Virginia and southern Maryland, it appears that predictions of indoor radon based on estimates of homesite soil radon and soil permeability are very useful.

Radioactive hazard of potable water in Virginia and Maryland

Only a few studies have examined instances of prolonged exposure to radionuclide concentrations found in natural settings. Radium in domestic water in Florida counties has been correlated with a higher than normal incidence of leukemia. A similar study in Iowa towns reported on a correlation between radium and increases in lung, bladder and breast cancer. Radium and radon in domestic water has been correlated with the development of lung cancer in a study of several Texas counties. A correlation has been found between radon in home water supplies in Maine and the incidence of lung cancer. Starting in the winter of 1986-87, the Center of Basic and Applied Science conducted a study of indoor radon and soil radon. Most of the study homes are in Fairfax County in northern Virginia, and the immediately adjacent Montgomery County in southern Maryland. Approximately 650 homeowners agreed to participate in the radon-in-water study. The study group now includes approximately 1,400 people, over 1,000 of whom have consumed their present water supply for 5 or more years, and over 700 of whom have consumed this water for 10 or more years.

Regional levels of indoor radon in Virginia and Maryland

The levels of Rn-222 in homes located in Fairfax County, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Maryland, are currently being measured during four consecutive three-month seasonal intervals using alpha-track detectors. Significant variations occur between parts of northern Virginia and southern Maryland because the area is part of three very different geologic provinces. Results from the winter period in these three provinces show that the indoor radon levels were about twice as high as anticipated. Approximately 45 percent of the homes had winter indoor radon levels above 4 pCi/l, the EPA’s recommended action level, and in the spring period, more than 30 percent of the homes still had indoor levels above 4 pCi/l. Indoor radon variations due to seasonal control were about as significant as geological control. Worst-case combinations developed over some rock units in the winter, producing areas in which about 70 percent of the homes exceeded 4 pCi/l.

Terbium as a solid-state probe for RNA

This paper continues previous work on the analysis of nucleic acid-terbium complexes in the solid state. The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of the RNA-terbium(III) complex is reported. The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of both the RNA-terbium(III) and DNA-terbium(III) complexes as trapped on millipore filters is reported. One hundred percent of the DNA combined with terbium was trapped on millipore filters. Deoxyribonucleic acid was recovered from DNA-terbium(III) complexes trapped on millipore filters using SDS-extraction. Energy transfer was shown to occur from the bases in nucleic acids to the terbium ion, whereas the actual binding of terbium to nucleic acids was due to phosphate groups. The relative fluorescence of homopolyribonucleotide-terbium complexes showed that the guanine moiety was responsible for most of the observed fluorescence. Binding studies showed an equal affinity of radioactive terbium for all the homopolyribonucleotides. The fluorescence of solid-state DNA and RNA terbium complexes was used to measure picomole quantities of DNA or RNA.