Removal of Lead Contamination from Unleaded Gasoline

Various systems were developed for deleading contaminated unleaded gasoline. As shown in both laboratory and pilot plant studies, the most promising systems consisted of passing gasoline through a fixed bed of carbon or silica gel impregnated with cupric chloride. The carbon system was most effective for removal of tetraethyl lead; the silica gel system was preferred for removal of the equilibrated mix of tetraethyl and tetramethyl leads. The effect of various parameters on deleading activity is discussed. The deleading process was demonstrated to be feasible on a service station scale.