Environmental Impact of the Use of Surfactants and Oxygenates in the Petroleum Industry

摘要: The role of surfactants and hydrophilic additives in gasoline fuel was demonstrated. The impact of anionic surfactant sodium bis-(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) and hydrophilic oxygen containing additives, such as alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propan-2-ol, butanol, 2-methylpropanol) and methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) on solubility of water, electrolytic conductivity in gasoline and interfacial tension in the water/gasoline system was studied. Small amounts of amphiphilic components improve the solubility of water in gasoline as a result of the occurrence of association phenomena with the formation of reverse micelles. The formation of surfactant aggregates and droplet clusters results in an increase in the solubility of water in gasoline, electrolytic conductivity, and a decrease in interfacial tension. The changes depend on concentration of the surfactant and type of applied biocomponents. Gasoline fuel in the form of microemulsion has a positive impact on the natural environment. The presence of water causes the almost complete combustion of hydrocarbons to the low toxic gases and the absence of carbon black among combustion products reduces fuel consumption, enhances engine power and decreases its temperature, reduces emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), NOx, SO2, CO, and particulate matter. The alternative fuel may have a potential use in spark-ignition engines in the future.