Abstract
The main objective of the present study was to assess the evaporation profile of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) in neat gasoline and gasoline-ethanol blend fuels. The vapors from two sealed columns containing river sand and distilled water were monitored during 18 days by SPME (solid-phase microextraction). BTEX that remained in the water and sand phases were extracted by SPE (solid-phase extraction) and Soxhlet, respectively. Instrumental analysis was performed by gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector (GC/FID). Toluene and ethylbenzene showed the highest volatilizations in the gasoline-ethanol column and the occurrence of attractive intermolecular forces among ethanol and BTEX molecules can be responsible for this distribution. Benzene showed the lowest reduction of concentration in the sand compartment in the gasoline-ethanol column.
Highlights
After the first oil crisis in the 1970s, with the increasing pollution levels and the need for clean energy production, several nations around the world developed programs to support the use of alternative fuels, including ethanol and gasohol, as automobile fuels
Despite the benefits provided by the mixture, the presence of ethanol in gasoline may affect the BTEX volatilization process, and these compounds may evaporate from spills
The main objective of the present study was to perform a quantitative analysis of the influence of ethanol on the evaporation behavior and distribution of the individual BTEX compounds over the headspace, sand and water phases of experimental columns, simulating spills of neat gasoline and gasoline-ethanol
Summary
After the first oil crisis in the 1970s, with the increasing pollution levels and the need for clean energy production, several nations around the world developed programs to support the use of alternative fuels, including ethanol and gasohol (a gasoline-ethanol blend), as automobile fuels. Despite the well-known harmful effects of those chemicals, there is lack of quantitative analysis of the influence of ethanol on the evaporation rates of each individual component on gasoline-ethanol fuel. This is a important issue because the evaporation profile of each BTEX compound may predict their transport and accumulation in soil and water sources. The main objective of the present study was to perform a quantitative analysis of the influence of ethanol on the evaporation behavior and distribution of the individual BTEX compounds over the headspace, sand and water phases of experimental columns, simulating spills of neat gasoline and gasoline-ethanol. Sand appears to be a good model for the study of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil, plume behavior of petroleum hydrocarbons and naphthalene bioavailability.[13,14,15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
