Compositions and photon mass attenuation coefficients of diesel, kerosene, palm and groundnut oils

Abstract Diesel, kerosene, palm oil and groundnut oils are important fuels for many household and industrial activities. For optimum benefits and to prevent undesirable effects from their use, the fuels must be in their pure states. Hence, the need to know their compositions in pure states and develop methods for detecting their adulterations. In this study, the compositions and photon mass attenuation coefficients of these fuels were determined. Their chemical compositions were determined using Gas Chromatograph, while attenuation coefficients were determined at photon energies between 60 and 1332 keV using narrow beam geometry. The component with the highest concentrations in Diesel and Kerosene are heptane (62.7%) and pentadecane (45.4%) respectively, Palmitic acid methyl ester (31.5%) and Oleic acid methyl ester (31.5%) are the components with the highest concentrations in palm oil, In groundnut oil, Stearic acid methyl ester (31.4%) had the highest concentration. The attenuation coefficients were essentially the same for all the samples for photon energies greater of equal to 511 keV. It decreased from 0.084 ± 0.002 cm2/g at 662 keV to 0.066 ± 0.006 cm2/g at 1332 keV. At 60 keV, there exist significant differences in the attenuation coefficients of the samples. The total uncertainties in the measured attenuation coefficients ranged from 0.5% to 6.4%. For detection of adulteration photons with energies less than or equal to 60 keV are recommended.