Control of benzene emissions from light-duty motor vehicles. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:6165864

Heimrich, M J

Several strategies to reduce the total amount of exhaust and evaporative benzene emissions from light-duty gasoline-fueled vehicles have been investigated. A literature search was performed to determine automotive benzene emission levels and technologies for benzene emission control. Laboratory vehicle emission tests were performed to demonstrate benzene control technologies. Exhaust benzene emission control was addressed by reducing total hydrocarbon emissions (including benzene), and focused on developing strategies for specifically controlling the high level of cold-start emissions. Catalyst formulations were investigated for improved benzene conversion efficiencies. High temperature catalysts were close-coupled to the exhaust manifold to promote quicker catalyst light-off. Zeolite molecular sieves were evaluated for evaporative emission control and results were compared to those using conventional coal- and wood-based activated carbon. A cold-start hydrocarbon collection system was developed. Hydrocarbon emissions were collected by a zeolite molecular sieve element for subsequent release to an active catalyst. Preliminary Federal Test Procedure (FTP) emission tests demonstrated a reduction in cold-start hydrocarbon emissions. Electrically-heated catalyst systems with cold-start air injection were optimized. FTP emission tests demonstrated that vehicles equipped with unaged electrically-heated catalyst systems are potentially capable of meeting the California Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle emission standards. Exhaust hydrocarbon speciation was performed on a 1990 Buick LeSabre and a 1990 Toyota Celica, equipped with optimized electrically-heated catalyst systems.

• Research Organization: Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6165864
• Report Number(s): PB-92-102631/XAB; SWRI--08/1815; CNN: ARB-A6-204-32
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ADSORBENTS
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
AROMATICS
BENZENE
CATALYSTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTROL
EQUIPMENT
EVALUATION
EVAPORATION
EXHAUST GASES
FEDERAL TEST PROCEDURE
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
MOLECULAR SIEVES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
TESTING
VEHICLES
WASTES