INTRODUCTION
As a Petroleum Laboratory NCO, you will have to make recommendations on the proper disposal of
petroleum products that do not meet specification limits but otherwise meet deterioration limits. Remember,
the sending unit relies on your good judgment.
PART A - ALTERNATIVE USES FOR OFF-SPECIFICATION PRODUCTS
Downgrading. When a product is not suitable for use at its intended grade, a good alternative use for the
product is downgrading it to a lower level. For example, AVGAS that is unsuitable for use due to bad RVP
and distillation results can be used as MOGAS. JP-5 that has off-specification flash point can be used as
diesel fuel; kerosene with off-specification color can be downgraded and used as DF-1; and diesel fuel for
engine use that has off-specification corrosion, carbon residue, and color can be used as heating fuel. Each
alternative use is acceptable and also cost-efficient.
Ground engines. Some types of ground engines can use contaminated/deteriorated products,
depending on the lead content of the particular product.
Stationary heating plants. Some types of stationary heating plants may be able to use this type of
product provided that any water and/or sediment is removed prior to use. The heat of combustion is so great
that extremely thick or contaminated oils and fuels can be burned.
Multifuel engines. Contaminated/deteriorated aviation turbine fuels and automotive gasolines may be
used in ground equipment multi-fuel engines. This type of use may be more economical than blending,
provided that product meets basic specification requirements.
Property disposal. When all possible means of reclamation have been tried, the Property Disposal
Office (PDO) should be contacted. The PDO will accept the fuel after the completion of the appropriate turn-
in document. The unusable fuel will remain in storage on the grounds of the possessing activity while the
PDO finds a buyer for the unusable product. The PDO will not store the product at a PDO yard but will
supply the buyer with appropriate documentation for the pickup of the fuel from your facility. It should be
remembered that the PDO is the last recourse of disposition of a petroleum product and should only be
considered after all other means of reclamation and/or disposition have been exhausted.
PART B - SELECT AND RECOMMEND THE BEST USE FOR THE PRODUCT
Reclamation and DFSC Procedures are used to determine the disposition of off-specification products.
Reclamation. Reclamation is the procedure used to restore or change the quality of an off-specification
product to a condition in which it can be used. The following factors must be carefully considered prior to
implementation of reclamation procedures:
Contaminating agents and source of contamination.
Extent of contamination/deterioration.
Probable end use of the product.
Unit POL equipment strengths and weaknesses.
Location and qualities of off-specification products.
Actual need for reclaimed products.
Time involved for reclamation.
The most commonly used reclamation techniques are:
Downgrading. This is the procedure in which an off-specification product is approved for use at a lower
grade of the same or similar product for which it meets the new, lower grade product requirements. For
example, premium gasoline is downgraded to regular grade when the octane number drops too low for
premium grade.
Blending. Blending is that procedure by which predetermined qualities of two or more similar petroleum
products are mixed to produce a product of intermediate grade or quality. It is important to remember
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QM 5182
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