Sooting tendency of oxygenates

PETR 41

Ripudaman Malhotra, ripudaman.malhotra@sri.com1, André L. Boehman, boehman@ems.psu.edu2, Stephen R Kirby, srk10@psu.edu2, Heinz G. Pitsch, h.pitsch@stanford.edu3, and Perrine Pepiot-Desjardins, pepiot@stanford.edu3. (1) Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, (2) The Energy Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, 405 Academic Activities Building, University Park, PA 16802, (3) Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
Oxygenated fuel components are known to reduce soot formation in diesel engines. It has been reprted that certain types of oxygenates (ethers) are more effective at reducing soot formation than others (esters). We conducted a systematic study of a large number of oxygenates covering a esters, ethers, alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones as well as a few miscellaneous structures to generate a large enough data base to be able to perform structure-activity analysis. As a surrogate for actual diesel engine emissions, we measured the smoke point of a hexane-toluene mixture to which various amounts of the different oxygenates were added. We confirmed the reported superior performance of ethers over esters, however, we also found that aldehydes and ketones were the most effective oxygenates. A group-additivity type model was also developed that can be used to predict the smoke point, and hence the sooting tendency, of hydrocarbon containing oxygenates.
 

Symposium Honoring Martin Gorbaty
8:20 AM-11:55 AM, Monday, August 20, 2007 Boston Park Plaza -- Plaza Ballroom, Oral

Division of Petroleum Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007