Date Performed: 2-05-18

Date Submitted:

Experiment No. 1

Density, Relative Density, °API by Hydrometer of Sample Used Vegetable Oil

Group No. Members: Paul Deg

I. Introduction

II. Theoretical Background

Density is the mass of liquid per unit volume usually taken at standard temperature of 15˚C
or 60˚F. Relative density (specific gravity) is the ratio of the mass of a given volume of liquid at
15˚C or 60˚F to the mass of an equal volume of pure water at the same temperature. API gravity
is a special function of relative density (S.C. 60/60˚F) which is represented by

API gravity (in degrees) = (141.5/S.G) - 131.5 eq.1

where S.G = specific gravity

The hydrometer method is the most suitable for determining the density (specific gravity), or
API gravity of mobile transparent liquids. It can also be used for viscous oils by allowing sufficient
time for the hydrometer to reach the equilibrium, or for opaque oils by evolving suitable mercies
correction.
 When used in the correction with the bulk oil measurements, volume correction error are
minimized by observing the hydrometer reading at a temperature close to that of the bulk oil
temperature.

Accurate determination of the density, relative density (specific gravity), or API gravity of
petroleum and its products is necessary for the conversion of measured volumes to volumes at the
standard temperature of 15˚C or 60˚F.

III. Materials and Equipment

IV. Methodology
 V. Data and Results

Table 5.1: Specific gravity and API gravity of the sample used vegetable oil @ 15˚C

S.G ( specific gravity ) ˚API

Raw 0.90 25.72
Processed 0.91 23.99
Biodiesel ( 10% diesel and 0.95 17.45
90% processed vegetable oil )

VI. Conclusion

By using hydrometer, we obtained the specific gravity of our sample. In biodiesel we mixed
10% of diesel fuel to 90% of our processed vegetable oil. Specific gravity varies with temperature
that’s why we measured it at a constant temperature in every sample which is at 15˚C. From the
three (raw, processed and biodiesel) biodiesel has the highest specific gravity. By using equation
1, the API gravity was calculated. As the specific gravity increases the API gravity decreases, they
are indirectly proportional to each other. Since the API gravity of the three sample is greater than
10, they are considered as a light petroleum product and will float on water. And also the three
sample have a specific gravity less than one. Specific gravity less than one are less dense than
water and will float on it.

VII. Recommendation
1. Measure the specific gravity at a constant temperature because specific gravity varies with
temperature.
2. Lower the hydrometer gently into the cylinder, take care to avoid it touching in the side of
the cylinder.
3. Accurate reading of the hydrometer can only be assured if the level of the sample is within
5mm of the top of the cylinder.

VIII. Bibliography