Determination of Fatty Acid Based Lubricity Improver in Diesel by GC

GC/FID has been used for the determination of a fatty acid based lubricity improver in diesel fuel. The method makes use of phase transfer catalysis for the enrichment of the lubricity improver from the diesel matrix. The use of phase transfer catalysis for the simultaneous extraction, preconcentration and derivatisation of the fatty acids enables determination of concentrations of 20 mg L^?1. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of diesel streams from various sources. The effect of the diesel matrix has also been investigated and it does not affect the recovery of the additive.