IMPROVEMENT OF METHODS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DETERMINING THE PROPERTIES OF OIL PRODUCTS IN THE CONDITIONS OF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES

Modern agricultural production requires the use of large quantities of fuels and lubricants (F&L). It was established by specialists of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution VNIITiN that in different observation periods from 7 to 25% of the selected fuel and oil samples had discrepancies in one or several quality indicators - the content of sulfur, polycyclic and aromatic compounds, fractional composition, the presence of paraffin hydrocarbons, contamination with mechanical impurities and water, the concentration of actual resins, low-temperature characteristics. It is proposed to avoid the use of low-quality F&L with the help of express laboratories and the simplest express methods for analyzing quality indicators. Based on the research results, an empirical relationship was established between the cloud point of diesel fuel (DF) and the maximum filterability temperature (MFT). For example, turbidity in DF at a temperature of -8 ... -10 °C with a certain degree of reliability indicates the MFT of the fuel at about -20 ... -25 °C. A device for determining the cloud point of diesel fuel is being developed, which can be easily implemented in the conditions of agricultural enterprises. A method for express assessment of the base number, which allows using an indicator and an available solvent to determine the value of this indicator by changing the color of the liquid after adding a drop of motor oil to it, has been developed. A fairly simple express method for monitoring the acid number is being developed, based on the interaction of acids extracted from oil with ethyl alcohol with caustic potassium in the presence of a nitrazine yellow indicator. The solution reacts to the acidity of the environment, the color changes from yellow in an acidic environment with a pH of 0 to 6.2, to green in a neutral environment and dark blue in an alkaline environment with a pH of 7.6 to 14. Express quality control of fuels and lubricants purchased and stored in oil depots allows to increase the reliability of agricultural machinery, reduce the cost of operation and repair of tractors, combines and cars.