STUDY OF REFRACTIVE INDEX OF DIESEL WITH

ADULTERATION

ABSTRACT
In our country the commonly used fuel for vehicles is diesel. Due to its
high price is commonly practice of the distributors to adulterate it with fuels
like kerosene which is cheap. Adulteration is one of the major abuses along with
under-dispensing products to customers. These practices lead to losses in
several areas, which include damaging engines and worsening air quality.
Evading fuel taxes reduces government revenue. Under-dispensing supplies to
consumers lead to consumer losses. In this project variation of refractive index
of diesel with adulteration we are trying to find the variation of refractive
index of diesel with addition ofdifferent concentration.We collect sample diesel
from pumps and investigate to percentage of kerosene in it.

INTRODUCTION

Adulteration is defined as the illegal or unauthorized introduction of

foreign substance into gasolineor similar substance, with the result that the
product does not conform to the requirements and specificationsof the product.
The foreign substances are also called adulterants, which when introduced alter
and degrade the quality of the base transport fuels. Gasoline is a major transport
fuel in India. Adulteration of the fuel at the point of sale and during
transportation has become an acute problem in the country.Financial incentives
arising from differential taxes are generally the primary cause of fuel
adulteration. In this project variation of refractive index of diesel with
adulteration we are trying to find the variation of refractive index of diesel
with addition of different concentration.We collect sample diesel from pumps
and investigate to percentage of kerosene in it.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To determine the refractive index of diesel usingspectrometer.
To find the variation of refractive index of diesel with addition of
different concentration.
To know the puvert supply station.

INSTRUMENTATION

The main instruments used to find the refractive index are spectrometer and
hollow prism.

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SPECTROMETER
An optical spectrometer is an instrument used to measure properties
of light over a specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, typically used
in spectroscopic analysis to identify materials. The spectrometer is also used to
find the refractive index of the material of prism for different colour of the
spectrum .

TELESCOPE

It is an astronomical telescope with an objective at one end of an eyepiece

at the other end of two coaxial metal tubes.There is a pair of cross wire in front
of eyepiece can adjusted by means of rack and pinion arrangement.Thus the
crosswire can be brought in the local plane of the objective.The length of the
telescope is varied to get a clear image of the distant object coinciding with the
crosswire without parallax.Thus the telescope is adjusted to receive parallel rays
DESIGN AND METHADOLIGY

REFRACTION OF LIGHT

The phenomenon of change in path of light as it goes from one medium to

another medium is called refraction. When the rays of light pass from an optical
rarer medium to denser medium it bends towards the normal .But when it
travels from a denser medium it bends away from the normal.
Determination of refractive index of solutions using hollow prism
The unknown refractive index of liquids can be determined using the hollow
prism and spectrometer.

Refractive index, n = Sin ((A+D)/2)

Sin(A/2)

Where A is the angle of the prism and D is the angle of minimum

deviation.The hollow prism is filled with the given transparent liquid without air
bubbles.Refractive index of a medium is defined as the ratio of the velocity of
light in a vacuum tube to the velocity of light in the medium.
To find the angle of the prism(A)
The least count vernier is noted. The vernier table is rotated so that the edge of
the prism points towards the collimator fall almost equally on the faces AB and
AC. The vernier table is clamped. The reflected image of the slit from the face
AB is obtained through the telescope. The telescope is clamped in this
position.The tangent screw of the telescope is worked till the vertical cross wire
coincides with the center of the image of the slit. The reading of the circular
scale and both the vernier is noted. The telescope is unclamped. Then the
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 reflected image of the slit from the other face AC is obtained in the telescope
and the corresponding telescope readings are taken.The difference between the
readings of corresponding verniers gives twice the angle of prism.Hence A is
determined.

To find the minimum deviation (D)

The vernier table is unclamped and rotated so that light from the collimator falls
obliquely on one face of prism. The telescope is rotated so that the refracted
index image is seen through it. The vernier table is slowly rotated in such a
direction that the image moves towards the direct position. The telescope is also
rotated in the same direction so that the image is always in the field of view.The
vernier table is rotated until the image is found to be remain stationary for a
moment and then begin to retrace. This is the minimum deviation position. The
vernier table and telescope is worked so that the vertical cross wire coincide
with the center of the image. The reading of the circular scale and verniers are
taken.The prism is removed. The telescope is released and brought in a line with
the collimator so that the direct image of the slit is seen.The direct readind is
taken. Difference between the direct readings of corresponding vernier gives the
angle of minimum deviation. The mean angle of minimum deviation D is
calculated.Then refractive index of prism is calculated.

FINDINGS

Angle of the prism (A)

Vernier 1 Vernier 2
Readings of
Total Total
M.S.R V.S.R M.S.R V.S.R

Reflected ray from

the first face (a) 120 20 120 20 300 4 300 4

Reflected ray from

second face (b) 240 22 240 22 60 6 60 6

Difference between
(a) and (b) 2A 120 2 120 2

Mean 2A = 120 A = 60 1
Angle of minimum deviation - Diesel
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 Vernier 1 Vernier 2
Readings of
M.S.R V.S.R Total M.S.R V.S.R Total

Reflected ray from

the first face (a) 159 15 159 15 33830 12 338 42

Reflected ray from

second face (b) 19230 22 192 52 12 23 12 23

Difference between
(a) and (b) 33 37 33 41

Refractive index, n = 1.458

Angle of minimum deviation 60:40

Vernier 1 Vernier 2
Readings of
Total Total
M.S.R V.S.R M.S.R V.S.R

Reflected ray from

the first face (a) 15930 8 15938 339 3 3393

Reflected ray from

second face (b) 19230 24 19254 12 25 1225

Difference between
(a) and (b) 3316 3322

Refractive index n = 1.454

Angle of minimum deviation - 40:60

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 Vernier 1 Vernier 2
Readings of
Total Total
M.S.R V.S.R M.S.R V.S.R

Reflected ray from

the first face (a) 15330 19 15349 333 20 33320

Reflected ray from

second face (b) 187 5 1875 630 0 630

Difference between
(a) and (b) 3316 3310

Refractive index, n = 1.453

Angle of minimum deviation : Sample 1

Vernier 1 Vernier 2
Readings of
Total Total
M.S.R V.S.R M.S.R V.S.R

Reflected ray from

the first face (a) 159 16 15916 33830 15 33845

Reflected ray from

second face (b) 19230 12 19242 12 10 1210

Difference between
(a) and (b) 3326 3325

Refractive index n = 1.455

Angle of minimum deviation : Sample 2

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 Vernier 1 Vernier 2
Readings of
Total Total
M.S.R V.S.R M.S.R V.S.R

Reflected ray from

the first face (a) 159 1 1591 338 29 33829

Reflected ray from

second face (b) 19230 12 19242 12 9 129

Difference between
(a) and (b) 3341 3340

Refractive index n = 1.458

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

We have measured Refractive index for diesel with various

adulteration ratios of kerosene .
An important finding is, as we increase the adulterations in
diesel,single slit image is spread in the form of multiplets.
Hence,accurate measurement of single value of refractive index
was not posible. Moreover, refractive index lies in a range(which
we have not found out).
We also compared the adulteration ratios of kerosene at two
diferent pumps as a sample 1 and sample 2 with standard value of
refractive index for Diesel.
From observations we can see that there is variation in refractive
index of diesel in one of the pump(sample 2) with repect to the
standard value of refractive index for diesel
It was found that in one of the pumps (sample no 2),the diesel is
sold as in the pure form.While the other the kerosene level is
found to the extent of 30% .

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CONCLUSION

Fuel adulterators are not just cheating consumers. The impure fuel is
turning our cities to gas chambers reducing engine efficiency, weakening
national productivity and dragging the economy down.
Fuel adulteration causes marked effect on the tailpipe emissions of vehicles. In
this project we collect sample diesel from two pumps and investigatf to
percentage of kerosene in it.From findings we can understand that there is a
variation in refractive index of diesel in one of the pump(sample 2) with repect
to the standard value of refractive index for diesel.Nowadays so many pumps
sold the diesel in impure form which can causes so many problems.So it is
essential to know the puevrt supply stations.

REFERENCE

A text book of opyics : Brij Lal

Dr. N.Subhrahmanyam
M.N.Avadhanulu