Composition of Automobile Evaporative and Tailpipe Hydrocarbon Emissions

Abstract

Mathematical modeling of ambient air photochemistry requires comprehensive mobile source hydrocarbon emission speciation. Passenger car tailpipe and evaporative hydrocarbon emissions have been examined using procedures described in the Federal Register for emissions certification. Hydrocarbon emission rates and compositions were determined for four passenger cars: a 1963 Chevrolet, a 1977 Ford Mustang II, a 1978 Mercury Monarch, and a 1979 Ford LTD-II. These vehicles are representative of a wide range of exhaust and evaporative emissions control configurations. Both emission rates and compositions were dependent on the emissions control devices used with the vehicles, and the fuel composition and vapor pressure. In agreement with the literature, tailpipe catalyst control systems removed unsaturated olefinic, aromatic, and acetylenic hydrocarbons to a greater extent than saturated paraffinic hydrocarbons. The impact of evaporative control devices on composition was not well defined, however the limited data suggested a sensitivity to fuel aromatic content. The emission rate of benzene, emphasized because of its potential carcinogenicity, was sensitive to both fuel benzene and total aromatic content.