Unconventional applications of spectroscopic and chemometric techniques in the fuels field

Spectroscopy has been the trait d'union of many research subjects developed at Stazione sperimentale per i Combustibili (SSC), also thanks to the exciting scientific context fostered by Professor Alberto Girelli, SSC Director from 1969 to 1988. This paper reviews a number of unconventional applications of spectroscopy in fuel chemistry. The paper is divided in two sections. The first deals with the application of Fourier Transform Infrared Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (FT-IR/PAS) to solid fuels and catalysis. The second highlights the possibilities offered by UV-VIS spectroscopy through digital spectra processing, and describes some results obtained in studies carried out on petroleum products by original data handling methods.