Detailed Analysis of PAH Formation, Toxicity and Regulated Pollutants in a Diesel Engine Running on Diesel Blends with n-Propanol, n-Butanol and n-Pentanol

Nadir Yilmaz (), Francisco M. Vigil, Alpaslan Atmanli and Burl Donaldson
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Nadir Yilmaz: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
Francisco M. Vigil: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
Alpaslan Atmanli: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Defense University, Ankara 06654, Turkey
Burl Donaldson: Department of Mechanical Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: There are a number of emissions produced by internal combustion engines that are regulated to limit atmospheric pollution. However, it is equally important for both environmental and human health to also monitor and control polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Using high-carbon alcohols with straight-chain structures, such as n-propanol (Pro), n-butanol (Bu) and n-pentanol (Pen), together with diesel fuel (D), can be a way to reduce these harmful pollutants. In this study, nine different test fuels were created by mixing each higher alcohol with diesel fuel at 5%, 20% and 30% mixing ratios. In order to compare the effects of these test fuels on regulated pollutants and PAH compounds, fuel blends were evaluated in a diesel engine at partial loads and at a constant speed. Regulated emissions were measured using a standard 5-gas analyzer, and PAHs were detected and quantified using rigorous analytical chemistry methods, such as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). While higher carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) pollutants were emitted by the binary blends due to their high oxygen content and latent heat of evaporation (LHE), a decrease in nitrogen oxides (NO x ) emissions between 4.98% and 20.08% was observed depending on the alcohol concentration. With the exception of the 20% n-pentanol mixture, PAH concentrations in the exhaust gas were significantly reduced in other binary blends. The 35% n-butanol mixture stood out in reducing total PAHs by 80.98%. In toxicity reduction, the 20% n-propanol mixture was the most effective with a decrease of 91.23% in toxicity. Overall, higher alcohols have been shown to be effective additives not only in reducing overall PAH emissions and toxicity, but also in reducing high-ring and heavier PAHs, which are more carcinogenic and cause a greater risk to engine lifedue to wet stacking under cold starting or low-load conditions.

Keywords: diesel engine; higher alcohol; blend ratio; regulated emissions; PAHs; wet stacking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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