An Overview of the Influence of Biodiesel, Alcohols, and Various Oxygenated Additives on the Particulate Matter Emissions from Diesel Engines

Puneet Verma,Zoran D Ristovski,Svetlana Stevanovic,Thomas Rainey,Thuy Chu Van,Gaurav Dwivedi,Ali Zare,Richard J Brown,Morgan Davidson

doi:10.3390/en12101987

Abstract

Rising pollution levels resulting from vehicular emissions and the depletion of petroleum-based fuels have left mankind in pursuit of alternatives. There are stringent regulations around the world to control the particulate matter (PM) emissions from internal combustion engines. To this end, researchers have been exploring different measures to reduce PM emissions such as using modern combustion techniques, after-treatment systems such as diesel particulate filter (DPF) and gasoline particulate filter (GPF), and alternative fuels. Alternative fuels such as biodiesel (derived from edible, nonedible, and waste resources), alcohol fuels (ethanol, n-butanol, and n-pentanol), and fuel additives have been investigated over the last decade. PM characterization and toxicity analysis is still growing as researchers are developing methodologies to reduce particle emissions using various approaches such as fuel modification and after-treatment devices. To address these aspects, this review paper studies the PM characteristics, health issues, PM physical and chemical properties, and the effect of alternative fuels such as biodiesel, alcohol fuels, and oxygenated additives on PM emissions from diesel engines. In addition, the correlation between physical and chemical properties of alternate fuels and the characteristics of PM emissions is explored.

Highlights

Environmental issues have been exacerbated by harmful exhaust emissions and increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) from fossil fuels combustion [1]
This paper presents a review of the characteristics and health effects of particulate matter (PM), as well as the effect of numerous fuels on PM emissions from diesel engines [27,28]
Geometeric mean diameter for methanol-biodiesel blended fuels reduced as compared with diesel

Summary

Introduction

Environmental issues have been exacerbated by harmful exhaust emissions and increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) from fossil fuels combustion [1]. The incomplete combustion in diesel engines leads to emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM), which are all regulated. There are some unregulated emissions such as formaldehyde; acetaldehyde; 1,3-butadiene; ethene; ethyne; propylene; and benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) [5,6]. These byproducts of an incomplete combustion may contribute to many health issues such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a decline in lung function, and pulmonary malignancy [7,8]

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