THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF CHROMATOGRAPHY AND SPECTROSCOPY IN THE ANALYSIS OF NONCONVENTIONAL FUELS
Nonconventional fuels are gaining in importance due to limited availability of crude oil and rapid growth of the automotive industry and transportation sector which is resulting in increased emissions into the environment. Exhaust gases associated with combustion of fossil fuels used in transportation sector reduce air quality and thus have direct impact on human health. Biofuels are more environmentally friendly alternative fuels that are produced from animal or vegetable feedstocks. Developments of new and more effective analytical methods are increasing since the knowledge of the chemical composition represents challenge to analysts. In this paper, the most common and important chromatographic and spectroscopic methods in the analysis of feedstocks and nonconventional fuels are shown. The paper also presents the characteristic chromatogram and spectra of certain feedstocks for biofuel production and chromatogram of biodiesel recorded in the Laboratory for testing, water, hydrocarbons and materials (Central Testing Laboratory Department) in INA Petroleum Industry.