Relevance: it is proposed to evaluate the efficiency or activity of oxygenate compounds by the value of oxygen atomic refraction. This will allow developing new components and additives for the production of motor fuels based on available domestic raw materials.
Objective. Comparison of the efficiency of oxygenate additives and supplements using simple calculation meth-ods.
Methods: a calculation method for determining the molecular and atomic diffraction of oxygenates was used.
Results and conclusions: all oxygenate compounds contain oxygen and the lower the atomic refraction, the more active the vibrations of atoms and electrons in the molecules of oxygenate compounds. Thus, the lower the atomic refraction of oxygen, the higher the activity of the oxygenate. Both molecular and atomic refractions of the main oxygenates have been determined, which made it possible to compare the oxygenates in use and those with potential. An important point is the specific refraction per 1 gram of substance. It is also possible to compare the activity of oxygenates, but in the reverse order: the higher the specific refraction, the more effective the compound is for a spark-ignition engine. For diesel engines, it is desirable to have higher atomic refraction and lower specific refraction per 1 gram of substance, i.e. in the reverse order.