Summary
It has been theorized that the removal of lead in fuels may result in an increase of fuel volatility. In addition, alcohols added to fuels (“gasohols”) increase volatility. Consequently, benzene emissions in unleaded and gasohol vapors may be increasing. Flame ionization detection gas chromatography was used to analyze benzene concentrations in fuel vapors. Results indicated that leaded fuels emitted more benzene than unleaded fuels. Though benzene concentrations varied for unleaded vapors, leaded gasohol fuels had higher benzene levels than their straight-hydrocarbon counterparts. These higher benzene emission levels may be an indication that volatility increases in leaded and some gasohol brands.
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Mukerjee, S. Benzene emission comparisons by gas chromatography of leaded versus unleaded and “gasohol” versus straight-hydrocarbon fuel vapors. Chromatographia 29, 603–605 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02261231
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02261231