Abstract
The Clean Air Act (42 U.S. Code § 7401) is one of the United States of America’s most influential environmental laws. Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, oxygen-containing organic compounds must be added to some fossil fuels with the goal of combating CO2 and particulate emissions. However, one major implication is the effect of co-solvency on the leaching potentials of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into groundwater. Our research investigated this effect on three groups of recalcitrant PAHs that are present in diesel fuel. Our results reveal that ethanol addition enhances the leaching potentials of these otherwise hydrophobic contaminants, with 10% ethanol (E10) resulting in elution of all the PAHs studied. While 5% ethanol addition to diesel fuel resulted in the elution of an average of 2.5% of all the trimethylnaphthalenes and 6.0% of the C2 alkylphenanthrenes present in diesel fuel, 10% ethanol addition led to the elution of more than 80% of each of the studied trimethylnaphthalene peaks and more than 70% of each of the studied C2 alkylphenanthrene peaks present in diesel fuel. In view of the known mutagenic and carcinogenic risks associated with exposure to PAHs through groundwater contamination, our study highlights the need for energy scientists to carefully consider the environmental and health implications of ethanol-blended innovations holistically. It is not enough to save the atmosphere but ruin the hydrosphere and most importantly, human health.
Highlights
The United States of America’s (USA’s) Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 require that oxygen-containing organic compounds such as methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE)or ethanol must be added to gasoline in some areas of the USA to reduce air pollution [1].Since the use of ethanol has increased, with many countries formulating various ethanol–fuel mixtures
Our research investigated the effect of ethanol addition on the leaching potentials of three groups of recalcitrant and potentially carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in diesel fuel
Our results provide clear evidence that ethanol addition to diesel fuel directly affects the leaching potentials of PAHs
Summary
The United States of America’s (USA’s) Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 require that oxygen-containing organic compounds such as methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE)or ethanol must be added to gasoline in some areas of the USA to reduce air pollution [1].Since the use of ethanol has increased, with many countries formulating various ethanol–fuel mixtures. The United States of America’s (USA’s) Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 require that oxygen-containing organic compounds such as methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE). Ethanol must be added to gasoline in some areas of the USA to reduce air pollution [1]. The use of ethanol has increased, with many countries formulating various ethanol–fuel mixtures. The percentage of ethanol in the ethanol–fuel mixture is designated by a number following the letter “E”. “E20” refers to an ethanol-blended petroleum fuel containing 20% of ethanol and 80% petroleum fuel. E10 or less are in use in more than 20 countries around the world. In the USA, ethanol represented 10% of the gasoline fuel supply from domestic sources in 2011 [2]. Since 2007, the mandatory blend of gasoline in Brazil is 25% ethanol and 75% gasoline [3,4], and in
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