Following are the role of inhibitors in petrol as well as diesel oil –
- When gasoline or diesel oil is stored for long time in storage tank, it may undergo slow oxidation causing gum formation which is undesirable.
- Such a tendency of petrol is promoted by presence of traces of NaOH in it. The slow oxidation and gum formation tendency of petrol can be suppressed by adding substances like aromatic amines phenol called inhibitors. Inhibitors easily undergo oxidation of gasoline.
- Such tendency of diesel oil can be suppressed by adding certain substances like peroxide inhibitors which easily undergo oxidation but prevent oxidation of diesel oil.