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The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of TAME and heavier ethers on reformulated gasoline. The research work focused on the comparison of Californian Phase 2 gasoline (CARB), current Finnish reformulated gasoline containing MTBE (RFG1), or MTBE+TAME+heavier ethers (RFG2) with non-oxygenated Eurograde gasoline (EN228). Significant reductions in exhaust emissions were achieved with all reformulated fuels when compared to the Eurograde fuel. For instance, benzene emissions were reduced as much as 40 to 50 % for all cars at two temperatures and the emissions of total toxics were reduced by 14 to 45 % depending on vehicle type and temperature. The lowest 1,3-butadiene emissions were achieved with CARB gasoline. The amount of PAH compounds in the particulate matter from the non-catalyst vehicle was lower with the reformulated fuels than with the Eurograde fuel.

Exhaust emissions from cars using reformulated gasoline (RFG) that meets European 2005 regulations for gasoline quality were compared to the emissions from cars using gasoline that meets European 2000 regulations (EU2000). Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) and Tertiary Amyl Methyl Ether (TAME) were used as oxygenates in the reformulated gasoline. The EU2000 gasoline contained no oxygen. Regulated, particulate and PAH exhaust emissions were measured at 22°C for 7 cars and at -7°C for 5 cars using the European MVEG cycle for year 2000 (ECE+EUDC). One of the cars was equipped with a lean burn engine, one with a direct injection engine and one was a carburetor equipped car without a catalytic converter. All other cars were equipped with multi point port fuel injection and a catalytic converter. Mutagenic activity of particulate mass was evaluated using the Ames test.

Cold operating environment has many kinds of negative effects on the use of automobiles. Low ambient temperature degrades start-up performance and increases fuel consumption. Hence, the amount of harmful exhaust emissions is also elevated. In particular, high concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC) are present. The continuously widening implementation of US-type emission regulations around the world has brought emission control technology based on the use of three-way catalyst (TWC) even to the Nordic countries having cold climate. Cold-start increases emissions from conventional cars, and especially the performance of TWC type of emission reduction has been shown to be quite susceptible to low ambient temperature. Therefore, an increasing emphasis has been set to the testing of exhaust emissions also at sub-normal temperatures, i.e. below the range of +20 …+30°C widely designated by the legislative procedures.

The Technical Research Centre of Finland has carried out tests evaluating the emission performance (regulated and unregulated) of alternative fuels for light-duty applications for the International Energy Agency (IEA). Several technologies were tested under varying environmental conditions using the same methodology. Altogether 14 light-duty vehicles on gasoline, diesel, alcohol and gaseous fuels were tested, and the number of test combinations (vehicles/fuels/temperatures) was 143. The differences between all fuel alternatives using three-way catalyst (TWC) technology (and also diesel) are rather limited. However, when temperature is lowered and also unregulated emissions are considered, the situation changes somewhat. The gaseous fuels come out as winners giving by far the lowest overall emissions.

Because of the great interest in biodiesel fuels around the world, the International Energy Agency's Committee on Advanced Motor Fuels sponsored this project to determine emissions and performance of a number of biodiesel fuels with a special emphasis on unregulated emissions. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Technical Research Centre in Finland (VTT) carried out the project with complementary work plans. Several different engines were used between the two sites, and in some cases emissions control catalysts were used, both at ORNL and at VTT. ORNL concentrated on light and medium duty engines, while VTT emphasized a heavy-duty engine and also used a light duty car as a test bed. Common fuels between the two sites for these tests were rape methyl ester in 30% blend and neat, soy methyl ester in 30% blend and neat, used vegetable oil methyl ester (UVOME) in 30% blend, and the Swedish environmental class 1 reformulated diesel (RFD).

Unregulated emissions of reformulated diesel fuels (sulfur < 50 ppm, aromatics < 20 vol-%) were compared to the European EN590 specification fuel (sulfur < 500 ppm, aromatics < 35 vol-%) in three IDI passenger cars and one DI van using FTP and/or ECE/EUDC emission test procedures. The effect of reformulated diesel fuels on the mutagenicity of particulate soluble organic fraction (SOF) was studied. Fuel reformulation reduced particulate emissions in IDI cars. Reformulating fuel by decreasing heavier aromatics - without decreasing final boiling point - reduced particulate mutagenicity on emission basis. At low ambient temperature (-7°C) particulate PAH and mutagenic emissions increased compared to the standard ambient temperature (+22°C) with all fuels.