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VOL. 8, ISSUE 2 (2024)
The E20 ethanol blending milestone and beyond: Chemical implications for automotive emissions and engine compatibility
Authors
Ch. Sudhakar
Abstract
The global transition toward sustainable
transportation has positioned bioethanol as a critical transitional fuel to
mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and reduce fossil fuel dependency. The
implementation of E20 (20% anhydrous ethanol and 80% gasoline by volume)
represents a landmark technical and regulatory milestone. This review article
comprehensively examines the fundamental chemical, thermodynamic, and material
interactions dictated by higher-concentration ethanol-gasoline blends. From a
combustion perspective, the elevated oxygen content, high latent heat of
vaporization, and distinct molecular structure of ethanol fundamentally alter
flame speed, radical pathways, and cylinder temperatures, resulting in
substantial reductions in carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC)
alongside complex variations in nitrogen oxides (NOx) and
unregulated carbonyl emissions. Concurrently, the polar and hygroscopic nature
of ethanol poses severe material compatibility challenges, including chemical
corrosion of metallic alloys via electrochemical mechanisms and the
degradation, swelling, and cracking of critical elastomers and polymers within
the fuel delivery architecture. This paper synthesizes current empirical
research regarding engine performance shifts, phase separation phenomena, and
exhaust chemistry, while exploring the technical pathways required to transcend
the E20 threshold toward higher blends like E85 and pure hydrous ethanol
implementation.
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Pages:40-44
How to cite this article:
Ch. Sudhakar "The E20 ethanol blending milestone and beyond: Chemical implications for automotive emissions and engine compatibility". International Journal of Chemical Science, Vol 8, Issue 2, 2024, Pages 40-44
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