Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Particles Emitted from the Diesel and Gasoline Engines

Abstract

Emissions from motor vehicles have substantially changed over the last decade because of new fuels, changed engine designs, and improved emission-control technology. Engine exhaust gases form a mixture of substances in various states. Gases are dominant, but liquids and solids from incomplete combustion of fuel and engine oil are also present. Particulate matter (PM) emitted from diesel and gasoline engines is a mixture of soot and soluble organic fraction, which is composed of an aromatic fraction resulting from unburned hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, styrene, xylene) from the paraffin acidic phase (cresol, benzoic acid) and the alkaline phase (pyridine, aniline). The remaining components adsorbed at the carbon core include inter alia water-soluble sulphates, nitrates, metals, and other carbon particulates. The concentrations, modal structures, and temporal patterns of urban particles are strongly influenced by traffic emissions, which are identified as the main source of particle number in urban environments [1].Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are contaminants widespread in the environment, and vehicular emissions have long been recognized as the Pol. J. Environ. Stud. Vol. 26, No. 2 (2017), 801-807 AbstractPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are contaminants widespread in the environment and vehicular emissions have long been recognized as the most important anthropogenic sources of PAHs in urban air Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted in the exhaust gases of diesel and petrol engines using different fuels were quantified. Size fractionated chemical analysis of particles in vehicle emissions were carried out by sampling with an electrical low pressure multi-stage impactor ELPI. The mean concentrations of total PAHs adsorbed onto the particulate matter in the rage of 0.03-0.25 μm emitted from the exhaust gases were 48.3, 128.2 and 83.0 ng·m -3 , respectively from three kinds of diesel fuels. Results indicated that PAHs present in the last two fraction (0.17-0.25 μm) have the highest contribution in the total content of these compounds. In the collected fractions of particulate matter emitted in gasoline engine exhaust 12 compounds were identified in the 0.25 µm fraction and 9 PAHs in the 0.17 µm fraction.

Air quality at two stations (Gdynia and Rumia) located in the region of Gulf of Gdansk during periods of intensive smog in Poland

“…Another consequence of poor air quality accompanied by high concentrations of PM10/PM2.5 can be increased rates of morbidity and mortality. For human health, small particles with diameter < 2.5 μm are particularly dangerous as they can penetrate deeply into the lungs and be transported directly into the bloodstream (Kennedy 2007;Ćwiklak et al 2009;Pio et al 2008;Szewczyńska et al 2013;Hassanvand et al 2015;Witkowska et al 2016a). Health effects depend on the length of time for which a subject is exposed to high concentrations of particles.…”

Possibilities for Reducing Combustion Engine Fuel Consumption and Gas Emissions

“…Another relevant achievement, which represents a positive result of the described engine adjustments, is improving the engine's operational flexibility and acceleration, which is a very important advantage in the starting phase of a competitive vehicle [10][11].…”

“…Values of nitrogen oxide emissions (NO x ) decrease in the lean mixture area because combustion temperature is reduced during engine operation in the lean working regime (Fig. 5) [12][13][14][15].…”

Economic Aspects of Reducing Low-Stack Emission in Poland

“…One can only use here examples that illustrate the scale of costs that could have been avoided or limited due to the improvement of the quality of air. For example, in Kraków where the results of low-stack emission are felt particularly strongly and directly influence the condition of the buildings, it is estimated that the expenditures for renovation of the damaged historical buildings equal around 70 million PLN (Szewczyńska et al, 2017). However, the savings achieved due to limiting of the destruction processes can be much higher.…”