The advent of the Clean Air Act in 1990 and the catalytic converter in engines, caused a significant reduction and eventual ban of tetraalkyl lead compounds. These toxic compounds were used to increase the octane number of gasoline, and decrease knocking. The removal of lead compounds from gasoline mixtures caused a reduction in the octane number of the mixtures. New fuel additives were required to retain octane number pre-lead removal. One such additive currently being explored is ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE). Its benefits include reduced carbon monoxide emissions, more efficient and complete combustion of hydrocarbons, and reduction of the vapor pressure of the gasoline mixtures. ETBE is of particular interest because it is semi-renewable. Experiments at the Advanced Light Source at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories were performed in order to better understand the oxidation pathway and potential products from combustion of ETBE. Specifically, a multiplex photoionization mass spectrometer was used to conduct experiments of low temperature combustion, 300 � 800K, initiated by chlorine radicals and oxygen. Several products are characterized and a reaction schematic is presented.

Low temperature combustion of ethyl tert-butyl ether characterization using synchrotron photoionization mass spectrometry

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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