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Monitoring BTEX and Aldehydes in Car Exhaust from a Gasoline Engine During the Use of Different Chemical Cleaners by Solid Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography

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Abstract

All commercial gasoline fuels build up deposits on the spark plugs, injectors, oxygen sensors, catalytic converter, and inside the combustion chamber, which will lower the engine's performance and increase air pollution. As a result, fuel-based detergents have been developed to prevent and remove unwanted deposits. Unfortunately, many of the detergents use high amounts of aromatic solvents, which result in a greater risk of exposure to aromatic compounds like benzene. In this study, car exhaust was analyzed for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), as well as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde during engine cleaning service using different chemical cleaners. A special device was designed for sampling from car exhaust using solid phase microextraction. The extracted compounds were analyzed using a gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector. The cleaning products were rated with regard to the amount of pollutants produced during the cleaning service.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the UVeiw Ultraviolet Systems Inc. for financial support and providing us with all cleaners.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Vadoud H. Niri, James B. Mathers & Janusz Pawliszyn

  2. School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

    Marcel F. Musteata

  3. UVeiw Ultraviolet Systems Inc., Mississauga, ON, L4Y 1M5, Canada

    Stan Lem

Authors
  1. Vadoud H. Niri
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  2. James B. Mathers
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  3. Marcel F. Musteata
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  4. Stan Lem
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  5. Janusz Pawliszyn
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Correspondence to Janusz Pawliszyn.

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Niri, V.H., Mathers, J.B., Musteata, M.F. et al. Monitoring BTEX and Aldehydes in Car Exhaust from a Gasoline Engine During the Use of Different Chemical Cleaners by Solid Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography. Water Air Soil Pollut 204, 205–213 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0038-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0038-4

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