Analysis of Gasoline Used by Motorbike-Taxi Drivers in Cotonou

Abstract

In 2009, samples from itinerant stations were taken in Cotonou. Official reference gasoline stations (French and boundary African country) were also studied. The analysis was done by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The results showed appreciate difference between itinerant and official gasoline samples: ETBE (Ethyl Tert-Butyl Ether) was found in the composition of the French reference but not in the African gasolines composition. Benzene was detected at yields less than 1% in the French reference gasoline whereas in the gasoline made in the African countries benzene yields were between 2.36 and 4.39%. The ratio of toluene/benzene varied between 1.27 and 10.25 in studied gasoline and was much lower in ambient air. For major components (aromatics and paraffin compounds), we observed another heterogeneity for itinerant gasoline (probably due to numerous hands making and transport).