Effects of an Oxidation Catalytic Converter and a Biodiesel Fuel on the Chemical, Mutagenic, and Particle Size Characteristics of Emissions from a Diesel Engine

Abstract

This study was conducted to obtain additional information on exhaust emissions with potential health importance from an indirect injection diesel engine, typical of those in use in underground mines, when operated using a soyderived, fatty-acid mono-ester (or biodiesel) fuel and an oxidation catalytic converter (OCC). Compared to emissions with the diesel fuel without the OCC, use of the diesel (D2) and biodiesel fuel with the OCC had similar reductions (50-80%) in total particulate matter (TPM). The solid portion of the TPM was lowered with the biodiesel fuel. Particle-associated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon and 1-nitropyrene emissions were lower with use of the biodiesel fuel as compared to the D2 fuel, with or without the OCC. Vapor-phase PAH emissions were reduced (up to 90%) when the OCC was used with either fuel. Use of the OCC resulted in over 50% reductions in both particle and vapor-phase-associated mutagenic activity with both fuels. No vapor-phase-associated mutagenic activity was detected with the biodiesel fuel; only very low levels were detected with the D2 fuel and the OCC. Use of the OCC caused a moderate shift in the particle size/volume distribution of the accumulation mode particles to smaller particles for the diesel fuel and a reduction of particle volume concentrations at some of the tested conditions for both fuels. The nuclei mode did not contribute significantly to total particle volume concentrations within the measured particle size range (∼0.01-1.0 µm). The biodiesel fuel reduced total particle volume concentrations. Overall, use of this OCC for the engine conditions tested with the biodiesel fuel, in particular, resulted in generally similar or greater reductions in emissions than for use of the D2 fuel. Use of the biodiesel fuel should not increase any of the potentially toxic, health-related emissions that were monitored as part of this study.

Biodiesel de soja: taxa de conversão em ésteres etílicos, caracterização físico-química e consumo em gerador de energia

“…Como combustível o biodiesel possui algumas características que representam vantagem sobre os combustíveis derivados do petróleo, tais como, virtualmente livre de enxofre e de compostos aromáticos; alto número de cetano; teor médio de oxigênio; maior ponto de fulgor; menor emissão de partículas, HC, CO e CO 2 ; caráter não tóxico e biodegradável, além de ser proveniente de fontes renováveis 17,19,20 . A utilização de biodiesel como combustível vem apresentando um potencial promissor no mundo inteiro 21 , sendo um mercado que cresce aceleradamente 22 devido, em primeiro lugar, a sua enorme contribuição ao meio ambiente, com a redução qualitativa e quantitativa dos níveis de poluição ambiental, principalmente nos grandes centros urbanos 23 .…”

Effects of a diesel oxidation catalyst on gaseous pollutants and fine particles from an engine operating on diesel and biodiesel

“…An unexpected result was observed in the case of B20 -the EC emissions increased after the DOC at 25% and 50% load. Bagley et al found that the reduction in SOF by a DOC using pure biodiesel was slightly lower than that using diesel fuel [17].…”

“…Most researchers reported an increase in SOF by using biodiesel or biodiesel fuel blends [10]. For instance, Bagley et al [17] reported that the SOF of the total PM was 57% for diesel fuel and 80%for B100 and explained that it was due to a shift to higher carbon number fuel-related organic species in the exhaust that were less volatile. The increased OC/EC with the B20 is consistent with our previous study [14].…”

Analysis of C1, C2, and C10 through C33 particle-phase and semi-volatile organic compound emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines

“…It is apparent from The reduction of alkanes (also shown in Fig. 2 as arranged by carbon number), like many of the other hydrocarbon species, primarily occurs through gas-phase oxidation, although filtration can make a minor contribution (Johnson and Kittelson, 1994;Voss et al, 1997;Bagley et al, 1998). Most low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (2e3 rings) consist of fuel-derived hydrocarbons, typically present in the engine exhaust and in the gas phase (Zielinska et al, 2004).…”