Relationship Between Gasoline Anti-knock Agents, Gasoline Aromatics Content and SI Engine Emissions

Six different gasoline blends with different antiknock agents and aromatics content were investigated for its influence on SI engine nitrogen-oxides and carbon monoxide emissions at part-load operating conditions. The six fuel types used were leaded gasoline with 0.5 g Pb/l, commercial unleaded gasoline, unleaded synthetic gasoline and its blends with different proportions of methyl tertiary butyl ether MTBE (10, 15 and 20 vol%).

A four- stroke, four- cylinder, spark- ignition Fiat engine (type 138 B 3.000) was used for conducting this study. The exhaust gases were analyzed for nitrogen-oxides and carbon monoxide emitted at part-load operating conditions for the speed range of 1000 to 3000 rpm. The results of this investgation have shown that blending unleaded synthetic gasoline with ethers such as MTBE reduces the aromatic content of the fuel. The 20 vol% MTBE-fuel blend gave the lowest carbon monoxide emissions of all blends used at part load condition. On the other hand, the 10 vol% MTBE-fuel blend gave the lowest nitrogen-oxides emission of all blends at part-load condition. The carbon monoxide concentration in engine exhaust differs between increase and decrease at part-load condition when fuel aromatics content increases. It was also found that as the gasoline aromatics content increases in the blend, the nitrogen-oxides concentration in engine exhaust increases.

So, substitution of MTBE for the higher aromatics gasoline blends may help improving state environment and air quality.