The present invention provides methods of improving the thermal oxidative stability of a distillate fuel which comprise selectively reducing the active concentration in the fuel of N—H containing heterocyclic aromatic compounds in which the nitrogen atom of the N—H group is part of the aromatic system, and wherein said fuel also contains an active concentration of metal compounds or will be exposed to active metal compounds in storage or in use. The present invention also provides methods of determining the thermal oxidative stability of a distillate fuel and apparatus for performing said methods.
本发明提供了一种改善馏分燃料的热氧化稳定性的方法,其包括有选择地减少燃料中含有N-H杂环芳香化合物的活性浓度,其中N-H基团的氮原子是芳香系统的一部分,且该燃料还包含
金属化合物的活性浓度或将在储存或使用中暴露于活性
金属化合物。本发明还提供了一种确定馏分燃料的热氧化稳定性的方法和执行该方法的装置。