Comparative Studies of the Physicochemical Properties of Super Fuels Sold in the City of Brazzaville

The oil industry is divided into two sectors: the upstream sector, which involves exploration and production, and the. The downstream sector of the oil industry, comprising refining and distribution, plays a key role in converting crude oil into economically valuable products. Oil refining involves a range of processes that transform crude oil into fuels (LPG, gasoline, diesel), combustibles (fuel oils), and specialty products (waxes, paraffins), all of which must meet regularly updated standards. These operations are conducted in refineries, which are classified as either simple (few units) or complex (many units, allowing for more efficient and diverse output). The refining process produces various fractions, including combustible gases (C<sub>1</sub>-C<sub>2</sub>), LPG, gasoline fractions (C<sub>5</sub>-C<sub>10</sub>), kerosene (C<sub>10</sub>-C<sub>13</sub>), gas oils (C<sub>13</sub>-C<sub>25</sub>), and heavier products (C<sub>20</sub>-C<sub>50</sub>) that undergo cracking to yield lighter products. This study focuses on evaluating the physicochemical properties of premium gasoline sold in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. The analysis of multiple samples showed that fuel sold by private vendors is of lower quality than that sold at official service stations. Key parameters assessed include density, specific gravity, viscosity, and pH.