Oxygenates are liquid fuel compounds that add oxygen ambient air pollution caused by vehicles, and an improvement in ambient air quality. 2 to gasoline and help reduce harmful gasoline emissions, while expanding the total available supply of motor Oxygenates are hydrocarbons containing an oxygen atom embedded in a chain of carbon and hydrogen fuels in the USA. The widespread use of fuels reformulated with oxygenates is a major step toward atoms. Oxygenates used in reformulated gasoline are either alcohols or alcohol-derived ethers. Some alco-developing a sustainable, clean transportation fuel for the 21st century. Despite improvements in motor hols, such as ethanol, can be blended directly into gasoline. However, alcohol/gasoline blends have a vehicle technology over the past 25 years, cars and trucks remain a major source of air pollution in the higher volatility rate which can affect engine performance in the summertime when ambient temperatures USA. 1 The development of reformulated fuels is part of a comprehensive national strategy for reducing are elevated, and a higher water solubility that creates difficulties in handling and transportation. Alcohols motor vehicle pollution, as described in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Oxygenates are currently used may be converted to ethers which cause less volatility in the fuel and are less water soluble. This makes in more than 30% of the US gasoline pool. By the end of the century, this figure is expected to reach as ethers more efficient for year-round performance, handling and transportation. 2 much as 70%.
For nearly a century, the composition of gasoline in Oxygenates are produced from a variety of feedstocks. Methanol, derived primarily from natural gas, the USA has remained essentially unchanged. From the early 1900s until the introduction of unleaded is a feedstock for the production of methyl tertiarybutyl ether (MTBE) and tertiary-amyl methyl ether gasoline in the early 1980s, the composition of gasoline was basic hydrocarbon gasoline plus a lead additive to (TAME). Ethanol, derived primarily from corn and other agricultural products, is a feedstock for the pro-increase octane rating, with seasonal vapor pressure adjustments for both winter and summer temperatures.
duction of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) and tertiary-amyl ethyl ether (TAEE). However, during the past decade, gasoline producers in cooperation with federal and state agencies have Methyl tertiary-butyl ether was first added to gasoline in the 1980s as an octane enhancer to replace been developing reformulated gasolines which are intended to reduce harmful pollution, and sustain tetraethyl lead. Since the mid-1980s, MTBE has also been used as a fuel oxygenate to replace some of the engine performance, good driveability and consumer acceptance. 1 more traditional hydrocarbons in gasoline. It is a colorless, volatile liquid at room temperature and has a Reformulated gasoline uses a minimum oxygen content of 2.0% by weight, limits benzene content to 1.0% strong distinctive odor. 3 It is the most widely used oxygenate in motor fuels because of its favorable and does not use heavy metal additives. Oxygenated fuel differs from reformulated gasoline in that the transfer and blending characteristics, ease of production and low costs. 2 In 1993 approximately 24 billion minimum oxygen content is 2.7% by weight of the fuel. Reformulated gasoline is currently required to be pounds of MTBE, worth about $3 billion dollars, was produced in the USA. 4 About 73 million people live used year-round in designated areas with high levels of ozone pollution. Oxygenated fuel is used during in US counties where MTBE is being used. 5 Methyl tertiary-butyl ether has undergone extensive winter months in areas with high levels of carbon monoxide pollution. Both types of fuels (reformulated toxicological testing, including acute toxicity, eye irritation, skin irritation, skin sensitization potential, muta-and oxygenated) displace many of the toxic hydrocarbons in gasoline and burn more cleanly because of genicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity and subchronic and neurotoxicity. [6][7][8] The results of these improved fuel combustion. The net result is a decrease of evaporative and tailpipe emissions, a reduction in studies showed that MTBE has a low to very low acute toxicity ranking, produced mild to moderate skin and eye irritation with direct application and was not a skin sensitizer. 6 Methyl tertiary-butyl ether was gen- โ Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.