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U.S. Department of Energy
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Seasonal impact of blending oxygenated organics with gasoline on motor-vehicle tailpipe and evaporative emissions

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6065641

The evaporative and exhaust emissions from a 1988 GM Corsica with adaptive learning were measured with 4 fuels at 40F, 75F, and 90F. Test fuels were unleaded summer grade gasoline and a blend of this gasoline containing 8.1% ethanol. A refiner's blend stock and the blend stock containing 16.2 % methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) were also included in the study. Regulated emissions (total hydrocarbons, CO, and NOx), detailed aldehydes, detailed hydrocarbons, ethanol, MTBE, benzene, and 1,3-butadiene were determined. Results indicated that higher levels of regulated emissions were produced at low temperatures. The blended fuels produced almost twice the evaporative hydrocarbon emissions at high temperatures as did the base fuels. 1,3-butadiene emissions decreased slightly with increasing temperatures. Ethanol and MTBE evaporative and exhaust emissions were greater at higher test temperatures. Acetaldehyde emissions from the use of ethanol fuel blend doubled. The MTBE fuel blend appeared to offer the most reduction in total hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen for the fuels and temperatures tested.

Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Lab.
OSTI ID:
6065641
Report Number(s):
PB-91-146571/XAB; EPA--600/J-90/303
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English