Showing papers on "Gasoline published in 2023"

Vehicular Ammonia Emissions Significantly Contribute to Urban PM2.5 Pollution in Two Chinese Megacities.

Abstract: Ammonia (NH3) plays a vital role in the formation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Prior studies have primarily focused on the control of agricultural NH3 emissions, the dominant source of anthropogenic NH3 emissions. The air quality impact from vehicular NH3 emissions, which could be particularly important in urban areas, has not been adequately evaluated. We developed high-resolution vehicular NH3 emission inventories for Beijing and Shanghai based on detailed link-level traffic profiles and conducted atmospheric simulations of ambient PM2.5 concentrations contributed by vehicular NH3 emissions. We found that vehicular NH3 emissions shared high proportions among total anthropogenic NH3 emissions in the urban areas of Beijing (86%) and Shanghai (45%), where vehicular NH3 was primarily emitted by gasoline vehicles. Local vehicular NH3 emissions could be responsible for approximately 3% of urban PM2.5 concentrations during wintertime, and the contributions could be much higher during polluted periods (∼3 μg m-3). We also showed that controlling vehicular NH3 emissions will be effective and feasible to alleviate urban PM2.5 pollution for megacities in the near future.

Biosurfactants as Multifunctional Remediation Agents of Environmental Pollutants Generated by the Petroleum Industry

Abstract: Fuel and oil spills during the exploration, refining, and distribution of oil and petrochemicals are primarily responsible for the accumulation of organic pollutants in the environment. The reduction in contamination caused by hydrocarbons, heavy metals, oily effluents, and particulate matter generated by industrial activities and the efficient recovery of oil at great depths in an environmentally friendly way pose a challenge, as recovery and cleaning processes require the direct application of surface-active agents, detergents, degreasers, or solvents, often generating other environmental problems due to the toxicity and accumulation of these substances. Thus, the application of natural surface-active agents is an attractive solution. Due to their amphipathic structures, microbial surfactants solubilize oil through the formation of small aggregates (micelles) that disperse in water, with numerous applications in the petroleum industry. Biosurfactants have proven their usefulness in solubilizing oil trapped in rock, which is a prerequisite for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Biosurfactants are also important biotechnological agents in anti-corrosion processes, preventing incrustations and the formation of biofilms on metallic surfaces, and are used in formulations of emulsifiers/demulsifiers, facilitate the transport of heavy oil through pipelines, and have other innovative applications in the oil industry. The use of natural surfactants can reduce the generation of pollutants from the use of synthetic detergents or chemical solvents without sacrificing economic gains for the oil industry. Therefore, investments in biotechnological processes are essential. It is predicted that, in the not-too-distant future, natural surfactants will become viable from an economic standpoint and dominate the world market. The application of biosurfactants in these settings would lead to industrial growth and environmental sustainability. The main goal of this paper is to provide an overview of diverse applications of biosurfactants on environmental remediation, petroleum biotechnology, and the oil industry through a scientific literature review.

Response surface methodology application on lubricant oil degradation, performance, and emissions in SI engine: A novel optimization of alcoholic fuel blends

Abstract: For evaluating the significance of renewable alternative fuels for optimized engine performance and lower emissions, methanol has been extensively utilized as a blend with gasoline in spark-ignition engines. However, rare attempts have been rendered to examine the consequence of methanol–gasoline fuel blends (M6, M12, and M18) on lubricant oil operating for a longer period in engines. The highest and least decrease of 9.62% and 6.68% in kinematic viscosity (KV) was observed for M0 and M18, respectively. However, the flash point (FP) of degraded lubricant oil for M6, M12, and M18 was 3%, 5%, and 7% higher than that of M0, respectively. Total acid number (TAN) and ash content of degraded lubricant oil for M18 were the highest among M0, M6, and M12. An inclusive optimization of engine performance, emissions, and lubricant oil properties has been made for various methanol–gasoline fuel blends at distinct operating conditions by employing the response surface methodology (RSM) technique. RSM-based optimization portrayed the composite desirability value of 0.73 for 2137.13 watt brake power (BP), 6.08 N-m torque, 0.37 kg/kwh brake-specific fuel consumption, 22.10% brake thermal efficiency, 4.02% carbon monoxide emission, 7.15% carbon dioxide emission, 134.12 ppm hydrocarbon emission, 517.02 ppm nitrogen oxides emission, 12.44 cst KV, 203.77°C FP, 2.23 mg/g KOH TAN, and 2.65%wt ash content as responses for fuel blend M8 at 3400 rpm and higher loading condition. RSM predicted results demonstrated significant compliance with empirical findings, with absolute percentage error (APE) below 5% for each response. However, the highest APE of 4.68% was obtained for FP owing to inefficient desirability as a consequence of manual testing. The least APE of 1.57% was obtained for torque because of the highest desirability. Overall, the RSM predicted results of the designed models are effective and viable. RSM technique was found to be effective for the optimization of the broader engine characteristics spectrum.

Achieving Zero-Impact Emissions with a Gasoline Passenger Car

Abstract: The Euro 7 legislation and the Zero-Impact Emissions concept aim at significantly improving air quality. Technologies that reduce pollutant emissions beyond current gasoline passenger cars have already been intensively investigated, but a holistic system layout considering extended boundary conditions is missing so far. This paper therefore develops technical solutions to achieve a Euro 7 scenario and Zero-Impact Emissions for a 2030+ vehicle. First, challenging test scenarios are identified to develop compliant vehicles. The scenarios cover extreme conditions in real-world driving, such as hot and cold ambient conditions, stop-and-go in rural areas or high speed and steep gradients on highways. Different technology options are discussed and selected for the investigations. An empirical–physical simulation model for the exhaust gas aftertreatment system is extended with new technologies, such as an electrical heater disc in front of the catalyst or a burner in the exhaust system. In addition to stoichiometric engine operation and increased catalyst volume, the results show that the expected Euro 7 regulations can be achieved in all extreme scenarios by combining additional exhaust gas heating with engine power limitation or pre-heating. Moreover, even Zero-Impact Emissions are achieved in most cases with the same technology options.

Etherification of olefins from catalytic cracking gasoline to increase its octane number

Abstract: This study explores the etherification of the olefins in the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) gasoline, without previous separation of isoamylenes fraction. The bench- scale experiment demonstrated that etherification performed with Purolite CT-275, a macroporous polymeric ion-exchange resin, and different alcohols (methanol, bioethanol, isopropanol and 1-butanol) produces significant conversion of olefins, even for the heavier C6-C9, so that overall conversion of olefins reaches 70% in reaction with ethanol and 83% with isopropanol. As a result, the Motor Octane Number of the gasoline increases by up to two valuable units. The optimization of the reactive distillation parameters was performed by simulation in CHEMCAD 8 and a process flow was suggested for the etherification sequence, in the FCC unit.