Ethanol fuel use in Brazil: air quality impacts

Abstract

Brazil has a long history in the development of ethanol for use as a liquid fuel for vehicles. They have developed one of most efficient and economical systems for producing ethanol in the world. Brazil provides an example that many other countries would like to emulate. Using ethanol as a vehicle fuel has significant potential air quality impacts. This paper will review the available air quality and vehicle emissions data in Brazil, specifically focusing on vehicle related pollutants that may be impacted by the use of large quantities of ethanol in the fuel. The atmospheric concentrations of acetaldehyde (CH 3 CHO) and ethanol in Brazil are much higher than those in other areas of the world, while the concentrations of the single ring aromatic compounds and small carboxylic acids are more typical of observations elsewhere. Acetaldehyde and ethanol increase in vehicle emissions and nitrogen oxides (NO x) may increase when ethanol fuels are used. Both CH 3 CHO and NO x are very important contributors to photochemical air pollution and ozone (O 3) formation. There are very significant O 3 air quality problems in Brazil, most studied in the larger cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. These are issues that must be evaluated for other areas of the world that are considering the use of high ethanol content vehicle fuels.

Fuel-nitrogen conversion in the combustion of small amines using dimethylamine and ethylamine as biomass-related model fuels

“…Regarding the specific contribution of potential pollutants, it is no surprise that not a single fuel appears fully "clean" under these conditions. Certainly, it cannot be assumed that all components reported in Table 5 would persist into the exhaust, especially if different pressure and temperature conditions are considered; however, some indications exist that components currently debated in fundamental studies may also be found in combustion exhaust from technical devices such as internal combustion engines and in urban air [86][87][88]. Such components may also have to be considered in aftertreatment of combustion processes.…”

O impacto do motor flex no mercado brasileiro de motocicletas e na liderança da Honda

“…Além disso, durante essa revisão também se observou uma escassez de literatura sobre o mercado brasileiro de motocicletas, havendo uma concentração de estudos na relação das motocicletas com a mobilidade urbana (SERAPHIM, 2003), com acidentes de trânsito (VASCONCELLOS, 2008) e a qualidade do ar (ANDERSON, 2009). No entanto, as motocicletas representam cerca de 1/4 da frota nacional de veículos e seu mercado possui uma série de peculiaridades: uma empresa líder que também atua no mercado de automóveis; um crescimento extraordinário nos últimos anos; uma relação intrínseca com sistemas de consórcio; e um conjunto de informações passível de tabulação e pouco explorado em trabalhos acadêmicos.…”

Investigating Criteria and Organic Air pollutant Emissions from Motorcycles by Using Various Ethanol-Gasoline Blends

“…Considering air toxics, in addition to acetaldehyde, adding ethanol to gasoline has generally been observed to reduce benzene, 1,3-butadiene, toluene, and xylene emissions (Poulopoulos et al, 2001;Niven, 2005). However, adding ethanol demonstrates adverse effects such as increased fuel consumption and the presence of unburned ethanol and increased aldehyde emissions (Poulopoulos, 2001;He et al, 2003;Anderson, 2009).…”

“…Most studies have analyzed the relationship between ethanol-gasoline blends and pollutant emissions by using passenger cars. The results of such studies have generally indicated that ethanol-gasoline blends were associated with lower exhaust carbon monoxide (CO) and total hydrocarbon (THC) emissions compared with unleaded gasoline; however, the blends were associated with comparable or higher nitrogen oxides (NO x ) emissions compared with unleaded gasoline (He et al, 2003;Yüksel and Yüksel, 2004;Anderson, 2009). Considering air toxics, in addition to acetaldehyde, adding ethanol to gasoline has generally been observed to reduce benzene, 1,3-butadiene, toluene, and xylene emissions (Poulopoulos et al, 2001;Niven, 2005).…”