Spilled Crude Oil Diesel Fuel Forensic Analysis Using GC-MS and FTIR Techniques

Ben Asante; Ebenezer Esenogho

doi:10.20944/preprints202606.1164.v1

Submitted:

14 June 2026

Posted:

16 June 2026

You are already at the latest version

Abstract

Diesel fuel forensic analysis has been accomplished to ensure the cut obtained from fractional distillation yielded the desired product. The analysis was achieved via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry techniques. Crude oil sample obtained from Tema Oil Refinery was emulsified with sea water. The mixture was cleaned from the seawater and distilled. The cut received from the distillation at about 265 oC and a pure diesel standard sample were sent to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology chemistry laboratory for the FTIR and GC-MS analysis. The peaks provided by the GC-MS of components from the cut were compared with the peaks of the components of the pure diesel sample. Furthermore, the chemical compositions of the cut were compared with the chemical compositions of diesel samples published by other researchers. Again, the functional groups of the cuts produced by the GC-MS were related to the diesel functional groups retrieved from the publications of other researchers. Additionally, the spectrum of the cuts produced by FTIR were overlayed on the pure diesel sample spectrum for comparison. Based on the similarities of the GC-MS information and the FTIR information, it was concluded that the cut was a diesel.

Keywords:

distillation column

;

gas chromatography

;

mass spectrometry

;

fourier transform infrared spectrometry

;

diesel

;

forensic analysis

Subject:

Engineering - Chemical Engineering

1. Introduction

Forensic analysis of fuels is immensely important to ensure safety and efficiency of the engines that use them, economic viability, and compliance of environmental laws stipulated by governments. Furthermore, distinguishing gasoline from other hydrocarbon fuels ensures its rightful consumption. Using GC-MS and FTIR determines the chemical properties of the fuel to ensure its rightful identity.

Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel that constitute a complex mixture of myriad hydrocarbons. The mixture consists of aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and olefinic hydrocarbons. The aromatic hydrocarbons include benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The carbon chain lengths of these hydrocarbons range between eight and twenty-one. It is designed primarily for internal combustion engines. Albeit most diesel fuels are derived from crude oil, there are other kinds of diesel fuels obtained from other raw materials. To mention a diesel fuel obtained from other sources is biodiesel. For example, biodiesel can be obtained from biological materials such as animal fats, vegetable oils, recycled greases.

Unlike petrol which is lighter, highly volatile, and ignited by sparks, Diesel is denser, less volatile, and ignites via high compression, offering 15-20% better fuel efficiency, higher torque, and greater suitability for heavy-duty, long-distance driving [1,2]. In this research, Gas Chromatography/Mass chromatography (GC-MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) were employed to analyze the cut obtained from distilling the spilled crude oil [3,4,5].

1.1. Gas Chromatography /Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Crude Oil Fractions

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry is a method of identifying different components found in a compound using the combined gas chromatography technology and mass spectrometry technology. In the mass spectrometry, is the independent variable and the relative abundance is the dependent variable [6,7].

With the gas chromatography (GC) analysis, the sample is injected into the GC column through a port, Closer to the injector port is a heater that vaporizes the sample. The column consists of mobile phase and stationary phase. Inert gas such as helium, nitrogen, hydrogen is used at the mobile phase which serve as the carrier gas to propagate the species through the stationary phase to the end of the column where a detector is placed. The detector is connected to a computer that generates the peaks, [8,9]. The stationary phase is either a polar or a non-polar species placed in a coil. The movement of the components are based on two factors, namely, volatility and polarity. The most volatile component having polarity different from the polarity of the stationary phase reaches the detector before any other component. The response of the electric circuit programmed in the detector is the peak produced by the computer. Figure 1 shows the schematic diagram of gas chromatography.

In the GC spectrum graph, the retention time is the independent variable on the abscissa. The retention time is the duration it takes for the component to reach the detector from the time the sample is injected into the column. The height of the peak is the dependent variable situated at the ordinate indicating the percentage of the species found in the sample injected into the column. The most predominant component has a corresponding highest percent composition of each run. The species exiting the GC column is transferred to the Mass Spectrometry (MS) column where electron gun bombards it to produce different masses having different polarities. The fragmented particles travel between a pair of magnetics having electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field deflects the ionic particles [10,11]. The mass of the particles determines the strength of the deflection. The strength of the deflection determines the particular location landed by the detector based. The electric circuits programmed in the detector detects the landing site of the particle. The electric circuit produces a spectrum with the assistance of the connected computer. The neutral particles go straight through the electromagnetic field onto the detector without producing any peak [12].

In the MS spectrum, the abscissa is the mass per unit charge and the ordinate is the percent abundance of the species in the sample. The molecular mass spectrometer could provide the molecular weight of the compound [13,14,15,16]. The highest value of the mass per unit charge peak is mostly the molecular ion peak. The most abundant spectrum gives rise to the highest peak. The computer connected to the GC/MS contains a library of different species with their molecular masses [17,18,19,20]. The masses of the particles from the GC/MS are compared with those in the library to find the highest probable match, [21,22,23]. The strength of the curve has a greatest relationship with the mass of the particle. The following calculation is used to obtain the m/z:

F_{m} = F_{c}

(1)

z v B = \frac{m v^{2}}{r}

(2)

z B = \frac{m v}{r}

(3)

r = \frac{m v}{z B}

(4)

where,

r = radius of curvature

m= mass of the particle

v = velocity of the particle

z = charge of the particle

B= magnitude of magnetic field

So, the radius of the curvature of the particle is directly proportional with the mass and inversely proportional to the charge, then we have

\frac{m}{z}

(5)

Figure 2 shows the layout of the mass spectrometer which provides the mass to charge ratio.

Figure 3 provides the schematic diagram of Gas Chromatograph- Mass Spectrometer connected to a computer. The components in the diagram are provided with numbers as provided below. (1) carrier gas, (2) autosampler, (3) inlet, (4) analytical column, (5) interface, (6) vacuum, (7) ion source, (8) mass analyzer, (9) ion detector, and (10) PC.

Figure 4 shows a graph of a component found in the diesel sample provided by the GC-MS. The abscissa shows the charge to mass ratio and the ordinate shows the percent of the components.

1.2. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is a technique used to analyze data by obtaining an infrared spectrum of absorption or transmittance of an organic or inorganic compound in any state of matter [23,24,25]. Generally, in the IR spectrometer, a splitter divides the infrared light traveling through the machine. Part of the light travels to the stationery mirror and part also travels to a moving mirror. The lights bounce back to converge at the splitter. The infrared light then goes through the sample placed in the machine [26]. A particular interference is created based on the position of the moving mirror at the time when the light bounces on. As the light goes through the sample, the molecules of the sample absorb some of the photons, and some are transmitted through the sample depending on the nature of that particular sample [27,28,29]. Furthermore, as the sample goes through the Interferometer and hit the detector in the instrument, particular wavelength of the light is produced. The computer connected to the spectrometer uses the waves to produce a spectrum by employing Fourier transform technique [29,30]. In the FTIR spectrum, when data obtained during the analysis is plotted, the wavenumbers are placed on the abscissa and the percent transmittances placed on the ordinate. The FTIR spectrum is demarcated in two major regions, namely, the functional group region and the fingerprint region.

The functional group region extends from 2500 wavenumbers to the wavenumber above the 2500 wavenumber. The fingerprint region starts from 2500 wavenumber and extends below 2500 wavenumber. The FTIR spectrum is further divided into smaller sections. The Single bonds start from 1500 cm^-1and extends to the wavenumbers below that. The Double bonds spans from 2000 cm^-1 and ends at 1500 cm^-1. Triple bonds start from 2500 cm^-1 and end at 2000 cm^-1. The Csp3– H bonds and Csp2-H bonds start from 3000 cm^-1 and end at 2500 cm^-1. Above 3000 cm^-1 are the single bonds with hydrogen such as C-H, O-H, etc. It should be noted that the wavenumbers provided above are just base values [31,32,33,34]

2. Materials and Methods

A sample of crude oil was obtained from Tema Oil Refinery. Table 1 presents the materials and equipment used to conduct the research. Figure 1 shows the distillation column designed and built by the author, Ben Asante, purposely for distilling spilled crude oils.

Figure 5. Ben Asante Distillation Column (BADC).

2.1. Distillation Process

After desalting and desulfurization of the laboratory formulated spilled crude oil followed the distillation processes. The following steps were adopted to conduct the distillation of the crude oil.

Crude oil was poured into the seawater and stirred slowly
The crude oil was cleaned from the surface of the seawater after allowing it to sit for 24 hours.
The crude was desalted and desulphurized then poured into the reactor.
Water was poured into the primary condenser
Water was poured into a basin
The secondary condenser was submerged into the water in the basin.
Receptacles were labeled according and used to collect the crude oil fractions.
Palm kennels were poured into the burner.
Blower was inserted into the nozzle of the burner to provide oxygen.
The palm kennels were set aflame by pouring some crude oil on them and igniting it.
The initial temperatures of the burner and the reactor were recorded using the thermocouple. The inline valve in the reflux line was opened.
The liquid pump in the reflux line was turned on.
The inline valve in the entrained pipeline was turned off.
The crude oil was allowed to reflux for about 30 minutes.
The inline valve of the reflux line and the pump were closed thereon.
The entrained valve was opened and the crude oil fractions were collected in accordance with the boiling temperatures.

3. Results

The constituents of the fraction are presented in Table 2. Figure 3 shows the FTIR spectrum of the diesel fraction [35,36,37]. The functional groups identified from the FTIR spectrum in Figure 2 are provided in Table 3. Table 4 shows the wavenumbers and their corresponding transmittances [38,39,40].

The infrared spectrum of the diesel fraction of Figure 6 shows the wavenumbers and the transmittances.

Table 3. Functional Groups in Diesel Fraction.

Wavenumber (cm^-1)	Transmittance (%)	Bond	Functional Group
2952.35	0.71	CH stretch	Alkanes
2921.16	0.53	Csp₃ – H, CH₂, CH₃ stretch	Alkanes
2852.55	0.66	CH, CH₂, CH₃ stretch	Alkanes
2318.12	0.99	–C≡C– stretch	Alkynes
2276.43	0.99	H–C=O: C–H stretch	Aldehyde
2211.02	0.99	–C≡N– stretch	Nitriles
2159.61	0.99	–C≡C– stretch	Alkyne
2067.87	0.99	–C≡C–	Alkynes
2034.36	0.99	C≡C	Alkynes
1973.77	1.00	Overtones	Aromatics
1604.36	0.97	N-H bend	Amides
1457.78	0.77	ring C=C stretch	Aromatic compounds
1376.57	0.86	CH₃ C-H bend	Alkanes
810.98	0.93	=C–H bend	Alkenes

Table 2. Functional Groups in Diesel Fraction (Continued).

Wavenumber (cm^-1)	Transmittance (%)	Bond	Functional Group
741.93	0.91	C–H bend	Aromatics o-disubstituted
723.16	0.9	=C–H bend cis-RCH=CHR	Alkenes
699.15	0.94	=C–H bend cis-RCH=CHR	Alkenes
673.94	0.93	=C–H bend cis-RCH=CHR	Alkenes
548.78	0.95	C-Br stretch	Alkyl halide
474.20	0.94	C-I stretch	Alkyl halide
2952.35	0.71	CH stretch	Alkanes
2921.16	0.53	Csp₃ – H, CH₂, CH₃ stretch	Alkanes
2852.55	0.66	CH, CH₂, CH₃ stretch	Alkanes
2318.12	0.99	–C≡C– stretch	Alkynes
2276.43	0.99	H–C=O: C–H stretch	Aldehyde
2211.02	0.99	–C≡N– stretch	Nitriles
2159.61	0.99	–C≡C– stretch	Alkyne
2067.87	0.99	–C≡C–	Alkynes
2034.36	0.99	C≡C	Alkynes
1973.77	1.00	Overtones	Aromatics
1604.36	0.97	N-H bend	Amides
1457.78	0.77	ring C=C stretch	Aromatic compounds
1376.57	0.86	CH₃ C-H bend	Alkanes
810.98	0.93	=C–H bend	Alkenes
741.93	0.91	C–H bend	Aromatics o-disubstituted
723.16	0.9	=C–H bend cis-RCH=CHR	Alkenes
699.15	0.94	=C–H bend cis-RCH=CHR	Alkenes
673.94	0.93	=C–H bend cis-RCH=CHR	Alkenes
548.78	0.95	C-Br stretch	Alkyl halide
474.20	0.94	C-I stretch	Alkyl halide

Table 4. Wavenumber and Transmittance of Diesel.

Wavenumber (cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)
652.75043	0.98764	571.15663	0.98312	489.56283	0.98175
650.71059	0.9882	569.11678	0.98228	487.52298	0.97993
648.67074	0.98842	567.07694	0.98267	485.48314	0.97816
644.59105	0.98789	562.99725	0.98268	481.40344	0.97541
642.55121	0.98774	560.9574	0.98283	479.3636	0.97358
640.51136	0.9874	558.91756	0.98325	477.32375	0.97009
638.47152	0.98741	556.87771	0.98287	475.28391	0.96789
636.43167	0.98739	554.83787	0.98193	473.24406	0.96873
634.39183	0.98614	552.79802	0.98074	471.20422	0.97385
632.35198	0.9855	550.75818	0.97987	469.16437	0.98101
630.31214	0.98692	548.71833	0.97853	467.12453	0.98411
628.27229	0.98799	546.67849	0.97618	465.08468	0.98155
626.23245	0.98731	544.63864	0.97552	463.04484	0.97812
624.1926	0.98565	542.5988	0.97639	461.00499	0.97727
622.15276	0.98403	540.55895	0.97514	458.96515	0.97807
620.11291	0.98414	538.51911	0.97284	456.9253	0.97936
616.03322	0.98833	534.43942	0.9746	452.84561	0.98005
613.99338	0.98799	532.39957	0.97829	450.80577	0.97988
611.95353	0.98731	530.35973	0.98153	448.76592	0.97939
609.91369	0.98734	528.31988	0.98143	446.72608	0.98059
607.87384	0.98669	526.28004	0.98097	444.68623	0.98072
605.834	0.98509	524.24019	0.98258	442.64639	0.97779
603.79415	0.9843	522.20035	0.98299	440.60654	0.97236
601.75431	0.98469	520.1605	0.98228	438.5667	0.96459
599.71446	0.98541	518.12066	0.98247	436.52685	0.96132
597.67462	0.98727	516.08081	0.98276	434.48701	0.9649
595.63477	0.98901	514.04097	0.98195	432.44716	0.96724
593.59493	0.98813	512.00112	0.98203	430.40732	0.9688
591.55508	0.98591	509.96128	0.98497	428.36747	0.97393
589.51524	0.985	507.92143	0.98708	426.32763	0.97897
587.47539	0.98588	505.88159	0.98513	424.28778	0.9798
585.43555	0.98695	503.84174	0.98265	422.24794	0.98091
583.3957	0.98683	501.8019	0.98277	420.20809	0.98864
581.35586	0.98579	499.76205	0.98336	418.16825	0.99232
579.31601	0.98456	497.72221	0.98223	416.1284	0.98591
577.27616	0.98382	495.68236	0.98139	414.08856	0.98275
575.23632	0.98384	493.64252	0.98272	412.04871	0.98396
573.19647	0.98386	491.60267	0.98347	410.00887	0.98617

Wavenumber (/cm) Transmittance (%) Wavenumber (/cm) Transmittance (%) Wavenumber (/cm) Transmittance (%) 3996.05656 0.99904 3916.5026 0.99901 3834.9088 0.99773 3994.01672 0.99944 3914.46276 0.99894 3832.86895 0.99823 3991.97687 0.99929 3912.42291 0.99893 3830.82911 0.99877 3989.93703 0.99884 3910.38307 0.99876 3828.78926 0.99873 3987.89718 0.99833 3908.34322 0.99842 3826.74942 0.9984 3985.85734 0.99831 3906.30338 0.99806 3824.70957 0.99854 3983.81749 0.99862 3904.26353 0.99798 3822.66973 0.99894 3981.77765 0.99862 3902.22369 0.99829 3820.62988 0.99869 3979.7378 0.99872 3900.18384 0.99878 3818.59004 0.99821 3977.69796 0.99888 3898.144 0.99928 3816.55019 0.99808 3975.65811 0.99845 3896.10415 0.99952 3814.51035 0.99811 3973.61827 0.99799 3894.06431 0.99929 3812.4705 0.9982 3971.57842 0.99822 3892.02446 0.99874 3810.43066 0.99828 3969.53858 0.9985 3889.98462 0.9985 3808.39081 0.99813 Wavenumber (/cm) Transmittance (%) Wavenumber (/cm) Transmittance (%) Wavenumber (/cm) Transmittance (%) 3967.49873 0.99813 3887.94477 0.9988 3806.35097 0.99783 3965.45888 0.99762 3885.90493 0.99883 3804.31112 0.99808 3963.41904 0.99754 3883.86508 0.99826 3802.27128 0.99887 3961.37919 0.9976 3881.82524 0.99776 3800.23143 0.99951 3959.33935 0.99764 3879.78539 0.99747 3798.19159 0.99967 3957.2995 0.99783 3877.74555 0.99774 3796.15174 0.99925 3955.25966 0.99827 3875.7057 0.99813 3794.1119 0.99843 3953.21981 0.99884 3873.66586 0.998 3792.07205 0.998 3951.17997 0.99915 3871.62601 0.99762 3790.03221 0.99822 3949.14012 0.99894 3869.58616 0.99737 3787.99236 0.99857 3947.10028 0.99873 3867.54632 0.9976 3785.95252 0.99823 3945.06043 0.99863 3865.50647 0.9982 3783.91267 0.99766 3943.02059 0.99815 3863.46663 0.99865 3781.87283 0.99786 3938.9409 0.99767 3859.38694 0.99851 3777.79314 0.99858 3936.90105 0.99785 3857.34709 0.99894 3775.75329 0.99903 3934.86121 0.99814 3855.30725 0.99996 3773.71344 0.99912 3932.82136 0.99812 3853.2674 1.00038 3771.6736 0.99854 3928.74167 0.99853 3849.18771 0.99877 3767.59391 0.99792 3926.70183 0.99841 3847.14787 0.99893 3765.55406 0.99821 3924.66198 0.99829 3845.10802 0.99931 3763.51422 0.99866 3922.62214 0.99855 3843.06818 0.99948 3761.47437 0.99909 3920.58229 0.99894 3841.02833 0.99923 3759.43453 0.99888						Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	3996.05656	0.99904	3916.5026	0.99901	3834.9088	0.99773	3994.01672	0.99944	3914.46276	0.99894	3832.86895	0.99823	3991.97687	0.99929	3912.42291	0.99893	3830.82911	0.99877	3989.93703	0.99884	3910.38307	0.99876	3828.78926	0.99873	3987.89718	0.99833	3908.34322	0.99842	3826.74942	0.9984	3985.85734	0.99831	3906.30338	0.99806	3824.70957	0.99854	3983.81749	0.99862	3904.26353	0.99798	3822.66973	0.99894	3981.77765	0.99862	3902.22369	0.99829	3820.62988	0.99869	3979.7378	0.99872	3900.18384	0.99878	3818.59004	0.99821	3977.69796	0.99888	3898.144	0.99928	3816.55019	0.99808	3975.65811	0.99845	3896.10415	0.99952	3814.51035	0.99811	3973.61827	0.99799	3894.06431	0.99929	3812.4705	0.9982	3971.57842	0.99822	3892.02446	0.99874	3810.43066	0.99828	3969.53858	0.9985	3889.98462	0.9985	3808.39081	0.99813	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	3967.49873	0.99813	3887.94477	0.9988	3806.35097	0.99783	3965.45888	0.99762	3885.90493	0.99883	3804.31112	0.99808	3963.41904	0.99754	3883.86508	0.99826	3802.27128	0.99887	3961.37919	0.9976	3881.82524	0.99776	3800.23143	0.99951	3959.33935	0.99764	3879.78539	0.99747	3798.19159	0.99967	3957.2995	0.99783	3877.74555	0.99774	3796.15174	0.99925	3955.25966	0.99827	3875.7057	0.99813	3794.1119	0.99843	3953.21981	0.99884	3873.66586	0.998	3792.07205	0.998	3951.17997	0.99915	3871.62601	0.99762	3790.03221	0.99822	3949.14012	0.99894	3869.58616	0.99737	3787.99236	0.99857	3947.10028	0.99873	3867.54632	0.9976	3785.95252	0.99823	3945.06043	0.99863	3865.50647	0.9982	3783.91267	0.99766	3943.02059	0.99815	3863.46663	0.99865	3781.87283	0.99786	3938.9409	0.99767	3859.38694	0.99851	3777.79314	0.99858	3936.90105	0.99785	3857.34709	0.99894	3775.75329	0.99903	3934.86121	0.99814	3855.30725	0.99996	3773.71344	0.99912	3932.82136	0.99812	3853.2674	1.00038	3771.6736	0.99854	3928.74167	0.99853	3849.18771	0.99877	3767.59391	0.99792	3926.70183	0.99841	3847.14787	0.99893	3765.55406	0.99821	3924.66198	0.99829	3845.10802	0.99931	3763.51422	0.99866	3922.62214	0.99855	3843.06818	0.99948	3761.47437	0.99909	3920.58229	0.99894	3841.02833	0.99923	3759.43453	0.99888
Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)
3996.05656	0.99904	3916.5026	0.99901	3834.9088	0.99773
3994.01672	0.99944	3914.46276	0.99894	3832.86895	0.99823
3991.97687	0.99929	3912.42291	0.99893	3830.82911	0.99877
3989.93703	0.99884	3910.38307	0.99876	3828.78926	0.99873
3987.89718	0.99833	3908.34322	0.99842	3826.74942	0.9984
3985.85734	0.99831	3906.30338	0.99806	3824.70957	0.99854
3983.81749	0.99862	3904.26353	0.99798	3822.66973	0.99894
3981.77765	0.99862	3902.22369	0.99829	3820.62988	0.99869
3979.7378	0.99872	3900.18384	0.99878	3818.59004	0.99821
3977.69796	0.99888	3898.144	0.99928	3816.55019	0.99808
3975.65811	0.99845	3896.10415	0.99952	3814.51035	0.99811
3973.61827	0.99799	3894.06431	0.99929	3812.4705	0.9982
3971.57842	0.99822	3892.02446	0.99874	3810.43066	0.99828
3969.53858	0.9985	3889.98462	0.9985	3808.39081	0.99813
Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)
3967.49873	0.99813	3887.94477	0.9988	3806.35097	0.99783
3965.45888	0.99762	3885.90493	0.99883	3804.31112	0.99808
3963.41904	0.99754	3883.86508	0.99826	3802.27128	0.99887
3961.37919	0.9976	3881.82524	0.99776	3800.23143	0.99951
3959.33935	0.99764	3879.78539	0.99747	3798.19159	0.99967
3957.2995	0.99783	3877.74555	0.99774	3796.15174	0.99925
3955.25966	0.99827	3875.7057	0.99813	3794.1119	0.99843
3953.21981	0.99884	3873.66586	0.998	3792.07205	0.998
3951.17997	0.99915	3871.62601	0.99762	3790.03221	0.99822
3949.14012	0.99894	3869.58616	0.99737	3787.99236	0.99857
3947.10028	0.99873	3867.54632	0.9976	3785.95252	0.99823
3945.06043	0.99863	3865.50647	0.9982	3783.91267	0.99766
3943.02059	0.99815	3863.46663	0.99865	3781.87283	0.99786
3938.9409	0.99767	3859.38694	0.99851	3777.79314	0.99858
3936.90105	0.99785	3857.34709	0.99894	3775.75329	0.99903
3934.86121	0.99814	3855.30725	0.99996	3773.71344	0.99912
3932.82136	0.99812	3853.2674	1.00038	3771.6736	0.99854
3928.74167	0.99853	3849.18771	0.99877	3767.59391	0.99792
3926.70183	0.99841	3847.14787	0.99893	3765.55406	0.99821
3924.66198	0.99829	3845.10802	0.99931	3763.51422	0.99866
3922.62214	0.99855	3843.06818	0.99948	3761.47437	0.99909
3920.58229	0.99894	3841.02833	0.99923	3759.43453	0.99888

Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)
3996.05656	0.99904	3916.5026	0.99901	3834.9088	0.99773
3994.01672	0.99944	3914.46276	0.99894	3832.86895	0.99823
3991.97687	0.99929	3912.42291	0.99893	3830.82911	0.99877
3989.93703	0.99884	3910.38307	0.99876	3828.78926	0.99873
3987.89718	0.99833	3908.34322	0.99842	3826.74942	0.9984
3985.85734	0.99831	3906.30338	0.99806	3824.70957	0.99854
3983.81749	0.99862	3904.26353	0.99798	3822.66973	0.99894
3981.77765	0.99862	3902.22369	0.99829	3820.62988	0.99869
3979.7378	0.99872	3900.18384	0.99878	3818.59004	0.99821
3977.69796	0.99888	3898.144	0.99928	3816.55019	0.99808
3975.65811	0.99845	3896.10415	0.99952	3814.51035	0.99811
3973.61827	0.99799	3894.06431	0.99929	3812.4705	0.9982
3971.57842	0.99822	3892.02446	0.99874	3810.43066	0.99828
3969.53858	0.9985	3889.98462	0.9985	3808.39081	0.99813
Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)	Wavenumber (/cm)	Transmittance (%)
3967.49873	0.99813	3887.94477	0.9988	3806.35097	0.99783
3965.45888	0.99762	3885.90493	0.99883	3804.31112	0.99808
3963.41904	0.99754	3883.86508	0.99826	3802.27128	0.99887
3961.37919	0.9976	3881.82524	0.99776	3800.23143	0.99951
3959.33935	0.99764	3879.78539	0.99747	3798.19159	0.99967
3957.2995	0.99783	3877.74555	0.99774	3796.15174	0.99925
3955.25966	0.99827	3875.7057	0.99813	3794.1119	0.99843
3953.21981	0.99884	3873.66586	0.998	3792.07205	0.998
3951.17997	0.99915	3871.62601	0.99762	3790.03221	0.99822
3949.14012	0.99894	3869.58616	0.99737	3787.99236	0.99857
3947.10028	0.99873	3867.54632	0.9976	3785.95252	0.99823
3945.06043	0.99863	3865.50647	0.9982	3783.91267	0.99766
3943.02059	0.99815	3863.46663	0.99865	3781.87283	0.99786
3938.9409	0.99767	3859.38694	0.99851	3777.79314	0.99858
3936.90105	0.99785	3857.34709	0.99894	3775.75329	0.99903
3934.86121	0.99814	3855.30725	0.99996	3773.71344	0.99912
3932.82136	0.99812	3853.2674	1.00038	3771.6736	0.99854
3928.74167	0.99853	3849.18771	0.99877	3767.59391	0.99792
3926.70183	0.99841	3847.14787	0.99893	3765.55406	0.99821
3924.66198	0.99829	3845.10802	0.99931	3763.51422	0.99866
3922.62214	0.99855	3843.06818	0.99948	3761.47437	0.99909
3920.58229	0.99894	3841.02833	0.99923	3759.43453	0.99888

4. Discussion

After the distillation, the cut obtained at about 260 ^oC was analyzed using FTIR Spectroscopy and GC-MS [41,42,43]. The sample diesel sample that served as a standard was taken to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology chemical laboratory for analysis. It was important to analyze the pure diesel sample so that the information obtained from the analysis could be used to compare with the information obtained from the analysis of the cut obtained from the distillation [44,45,47,48,49]. The constituents of the fraction are presented in Table 2. Notably, the constituents in diesel fractions are paraffins, aromatics, and naphthenes [50,51,52]. The cut obtained from the distillation at about 265 ^oC was compared with the constituents provided by the above-mentioned researchers. The cut received from the distillation at about 265 ^oC and a pure diesel standard sample were sent to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology chemistry laboratory for the FTIR and GC-MS analysis. The peaks provided by the GC-MS of the components from the cut were compared with the peaks of the components of the pure diesel sample. Furthermore, the chemical compositions of the cut were compared with the chemical compositions of diesel samples published by the above-mentioned researchers. Again, the functional groups of the cuts produced by the GC-MS were related to the diesel functional groups retrieved from the publications of the researchers mentioned above. In comparison, the cut proved to be diesel. Figure 6 shows the FTIR spectrum of the diesel fraction [. The functional groups identified from the FTIR spectrum in Figure 6 are provided in Table 3. The spectrum shows the wavenumbers on the abscissa and their corresponding percent transmittances on the ordinate. It should be noted that the only major peaks are presented on the spectrum. Additionally, the spectrum of the cuts produced by FTIR were overlayed on the pure diesel sample spectrum for comparison. Based on the similarities of the GC-MS information and the FTIR information, it was concluded that the cut was a diesel. This research proves the importance of diesel fuel analytical profiling. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry together with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry were utilized to identify the constituents of the diesel sample obtained from distilling laboratory prepared spill crude oil. The GC-MS technique was able separate the diesel comprising myriads of hydrocarbons. Then it provided the molecular weights of the compounds for easily identification. Furthermore, the FTIR techniques was able evaluate absorbance and transmittance of the infrared light that went through the sample to identify the various functional groups the diesel fraction. In conclusion, the research was successful.

5. Patents

Not applicable

Supplementary Materials

No supplementary materials available.

Author Contributions

B. A. and E. E.; methodology, B. A.; validation, B. A.; formal analysis, B. A.; investigation, B. A; resources, B. A and E. E.; data curation, B. A..; writing—original draft preparation, B. A.; writing—review and editing, B. A. and E. E.; visualization, B. A..; supervision, E. E.; project administration, B. A. and E. E.; funding acquisition, B. A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The data used in the analysis are presented in the work. More data can be provided upon request.

Acknowledgments

Any figure or table not designed by the authors have been duly acknowledged and referenced. The authors assume the responsibility for the contents of this publication.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Gas chromatography. Source: (BiteSize Bio, 2022).

Figure 2. Mass Spectrometer. (Source: Acer. 2016).

Figure 3. Schematic diagram of GC-MS. Source: (Turner, 2024).

Figure 4. Component in diesel GC-MS diagram. Source: (KNUST Chemical Laboratory, 2023).

Figure 6. FTIR Spectrum of Diesel Sample.

Table 1. Materials.

Seawater	Bottles	Stirring rod	Graduated pipet
Crude oil	Test Beaker	Funnel	Water heater
Basin	Pipet, 10 ml	Sponge	Thermocouple
Fresh water	Cylinders, 100 ml	Nose mask	Measuring bottle
Wooden stirrer	Palm kernel	Gloves	Timer
Sponge	Volumetric flask

Table 2. Components in Diesel Fraction.

Naphthalene	Octatriacontyl pentafluoropropionate	1-methylnaphthalene
Dodecane	p-xylene	2,6,10-trimethyldodecane
5-isopropyl-6,6-dimethylhept-3-yne-2,5-diol	Nonane	Tetradecane
Decahydro-2-methylnaphthalene	Mesitylene	2,7-dimethylnaphthalene
2,3,7-trimethyldodecane	1-ethyl-3-methylbenzene	Octylcyclohexane
2,6-dimethylundecane	Decane	1,7-dimethyl-naphthalene
Heptylcyclohexane	1,2,4-trimethylbenzene	Tridecane
2,6,10,14-tetramethylheptadecane	Undecane	2-methylnaphthalene
Tetradecane	2,3,6-trimethylnaphthalene	3-(2-methylpropenyl)-1H-indene
2-methylpentadecane	Hexadecane	2,6,10-trimethylpentadecane
Heptadecane	2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane	5,8-diethyldodecane
Octadecane	2,6,10,14-tetramethylhexadecane	2-(octadecyloxyl)-ethanol
Nonadecane	Eicosane	2-(octadecyloxyl)-ethanol

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