5.9 Why are only some gasoline compounds restricted?
Description
This article is from the Gasoline FAQ, by Bruce Hamilton with numerous contributions by others.
5.9 Why are only some gasoline compounds restricted?
The less volatile hydrocarbons in gasoline are not released in significant
quantities during normal use, and the more volatile alkanes are considerably
less toxic than many other chemicals encountered daily. The newer gasoline
additives also have potentially undesirable properties before they are even
combusted. Most hydrocarbons are very insoluble in water, with the lower
aromatics being the most soluble, however the addition of oxygen to
hydrocarbons significantly increases the mutual solubility with water.
Compound in Water Water in Compound
% mass/mass @ C % mass/mass @ C
normal decane 0.0000052 25 0.0072 25
iso-octane 0.00024 25 0.0055 20
normal hexane 0.00125 25 0.0111 20
cyclohexane 0.0055 25 0.010 20
1-hexene 0.00697 25 0.0477 30
toluene 0.0515 25 0.0334 25
benzene 0.1791 25 0.0635 25
methanol complete 25 complete 25
ethanol complete 25 complete 25
MTBE 4.8 20 1.4 20
TAME - 0.6 20
The concentrations and ratios of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes
( BTEX ) in water are often used to monitor groundwater contamination from
gasoline storage tanks or pipelines. The oxygenates and other new additives
may increase the extent of water and soil pollution by acting as co-solvents
for HCs.
Various government bodies ( EPA, OSHA, NIOSH ) are charged with ensuring
people are not exposed to unacceptable chemical hazards, and maintain
ongoing research into the toxicity of liquid gasoline contact, water and soil
pollution, evaporative emissions, and tailpipe emissions [87]. As toxicity
is found, the quantities in gasoline of the specific chemical ( benzene ),
or family of chemicals ( alkyl leads, aromatics, olefins ) are regulated.
The recent dramatic changes caused by the need to reduce alkyl leads,
halogens, olefins, and aromatics has resulted in whole new families of
compounds ( ethers, alcohols ) being introduced into fuels without prior
detailed toxicity studies being completed. If adverse results appear, these
compounds are also likely to be regulated to protect people and the
environment.
Also, as the chemistry of emissions is unravelled, the chemical precursors
to toxic tailpipe emissions ( such as higher aromatics that produce benzene
emissions ) are also controlled, even if they are not themselves toxic.
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