POLLUTANT EMISSION BY VEHICLES

The global challenge to reduce emissions of pollutants and gases by the transport sector.

Petroleum-based fuels such as gasoline and diesel are composed of hydrocarbon-based mineral oils. The burning of hydrocarbons generates pollutant emissions released by an incomplete burning of fuel. Development of black smoke during combustion, also known as black carbon, is released due to bad combustion.

The particulate matter (pm), known as black carbon, has very serious effects both on public health and global climate, being that the burning of fossil fuels and bio-fuels by internal combustion engines represent 60% of pm emissions.

The concentration of black carbon in the atmosphere, resulting from fuel and biomass burning, is second only to carbon dioxide emissions as leading causes of global warming, according to an article published by the british journal nature.

The transport sector is responsible for 13% of global greenhouse gas emissions (in 2004), generated by burning fossil fuels in transports by roads, railways, air and sea.

95% of the energy used in global transport comes from oil, mainly gasoline and diesel.

Effects of black carbon:

• Black carbon contributes to adverse impacts on human health, ecosystems and weather patterns;
• Black carbon particulate matter is associated with a wide range of health problems such as cardiovascular and respiratory complications and premature death;
• The particulate matter absorbs solar energy and affects the climate by increasing temperatures, precipitating snow and ice melting, and changing the pattern and intensity of rainfall.

Carbonização dos motores

Carbonization is the great evil affecting gasoline, diesel and alcohol engines.  Carbonization is the result of waste accumulation due to an incomplete burning of fuel, or to poor quality fuel.  When fuel combustion is not complete, part of the unburned carbon builds up on valves, pistons and engine chambers, hence, the appearance of carbonization.

What happens with engine carbonization?

• Carbonization leads to engine performance loss, because the compression of the cylinders is affected;
• Bursts in the intake manifold or exhaust, faulting, detonation (engine knock), overheating, dreg formation in the engine and idle speed, are other symptoms of carbonization;
• Carbonization is responsible for increasing pollutant emission above normal levels.