Introduction
Automobile gasoline-main type of fuel used by internal combustion engine. It is mix of hydrocarbons from crude oil and gas. There no secret that is pure form gasoline is not used. At refineries there are adding of extra components – fuel additives. This is made not just improve quality of petrol, but also make it more economically. Only manufacturer understands that fuel producing process is very long and expensive, and fuel additives is best choice to make product cheaper and better. Most usable additive is, octane boosting ones, because octane number is very important characteristics for gasoline. It is the octane number that determines the detonation resistance of the fuel (the ability to ignite). The larger it is, the better the gasoline.
Especially for you, we are made top 7 of most popular octane boosting additives. Some of the is forbidden for long time in some countries, but some of them are still popular.
N-Methylaniline (NMA, MMA)
The main advantage of N-Methylaniline, that it is increasing octane number very effective, by less usage of it. It depends from quality of initial product 1% of N-Methylaniline from total volume can increase octane number from 8 to 10 units. When it is used correctly we can get premium class gasoline. There is only one "but"…
From 2016 this additive is forbidden to use in EURO-5 fuels in Russia, USA, Vietnam and Europe. More interesting that is forbidden to use it, but not to manufacture it, therefore, despite the restriction, there are those who actively use N-Methylaniline. Here, as they say, everyone's personal business.
Combustion catalyst DROP®
No less effective additive than N-Methylaniline, which has found use around the world. The content of the main substance-99.9%! DROP® perfectly increases the octane number. For example, to get 95 out of 92 gasoline requires only 8-10 kg (0.8 – 1%) of product per ton.
By adding 1.5% of this additive by mass to premium mix, which consist of 70% isooctane and 30% of normal heptane, octane number is increasing on minimum 6 units, 3 units by research method and 6.2 by motor method.
And by adding DROP® from 1.5-2% by total volume to gasoline with octane number 80, you can get gasoline with octane number 92.
MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether)
It share at market as high-octane boosting component is almost monopoly. This additive easily matching with hydrocarbons and increasing fuel efficiency: decreasing content of sulfur, benzenes, olefin and aromatic hydrocarbons. By the way,MTBE is actively produced in Russia and China, and the only exception from developed countries, where this additive is prohibited for use in gasoline, is America. In 1996, an unacceptable concentration of MTBE was found in underground drinking water sources in the cities of Santa Monica and Glenville in California. Experiments on laboratory animals that were given a dose of MTBE in 1997 recorded the development of leukemia, lymphoma, and cancer. As a result, since 2003, the use of MTBE has been prohibited in the state of California. And since 2007, the ban has extended to the rest of the US States.
Aplidium®
Effective additive, which can compete with N-Methylaniline, meets EURO-5 standards! It is very popular in Russia. Aplidium® working as octane corrector, is result of long tests: two vehicles with same internal combustion engine and filled with EURO-5 gasoline, traveled same distance. In gasoline of first car was adding from1 to 5 percent of N-Methylaniline, in gasoline of other one – Aplidium®. Each 3000 kilometers both engines were opened for checking of carbon formation.
Laboratory tests showed,that after using Aplidium® no parameters of gasoline does not exceed acceptable standards, a pronounced anti knock effect is not in doubt. After adding 1.5% of Aplidium® in mix of isooctane and heptane there are increasing of octane number on 5.5 units by research method and 5.3 units by motor method. What about effectiveness in fuel formula, so 1.5% of Aplidium® replace till 10% of MTBE.
In addition to aromatic amines, this additive consists of organic solvents that have a washing effect and prevent the formation of resins in the fuel system of the car.
Adding of Aplidium® makes it easier to obtain high-octane gasoline, reduce the cost of the final product and at the same time fully meet the requirements of Euro-5 for gasoline.
MMT (Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl)
Another additive which increasing octane number till 10 units, and also decreasing content of aromatics in gasoline and fuel consumption till 5%. Improves the performance of afterburning catalysts and does not clog the catalyst with metal oxides. This additive can be used both independently and in compositions with Mono Methyl Aniline and MTBE. The recommended dosage is 160-180 ml per ton of gasoline.
The disadvantage of manganese additives is decomposition in light, which leads to the loss of anti-knock properties. Despite the high efficiency of their application is limited by the requirements of sustainability. Manganese tricarbonyl is very toxic. The main negative consequences are increased wear, carbon formation on spark plugs and in the combustion chamber.
Ferrocene
This powdery, metal-containing additive is also famous for its anti-knock properties. Ferrocene is the economically cheapest way to raise the octane number at a cost-per-ton / OCH ratio. It is enough to add 170 grams of product per ton of gasoline to increase the octane number by 4-5 units.
Ferrocene and its derivatives can be used as a part of gasoline of all brands at a concentration of iron no more than 37 mg / ml. Limit the concentration of ferrocene for two reasons. First, because of the formation of iron oxides, which remain as carbon on the engine parts, and also accumulate in the oil. Secondly, because of the increased propensity of gasoline to tar formation. In modern Euro-5 standards, ferrocene is prohibited, and only countries where no EURO-5 and EURO-4 standards actively use it.
Ferrocene is used not only as octane boosting additive, but also using in other industries:
- As supplement to pigments and dyes
- For polymer products. Ferrocene is a protective substance against elevated temperatures and UV radiation.
- Ferrocene can also be an additive to heating oil, heating oil and diesel fuel. Thanks to it, soot, smoke and carbon are not formed.
- Serves as a heat stabilizer for diethylene rubbers and polyethylene.
Tetra Ethyl lead (TEL)
Usage of Tetra Ethyl lead started at 1921, and even today is one the cheapest and effective products, but it is forbidden in most countries.
TEL (Tetra Ethyl Lead) is not using in pure form, because metallic lead is deposited on the walls of engine cylinders, that damage it. For this reason, so-called removers are introduced into the mix with Tel (Tetra Ethyl Lead), which form volatile compounds with metal lead. Scavengers are usually chlorine-or bromine-containing compounds. A mixture of Tetra Ethyl Lead and a scavenger is called an ethyl liquid, and gasoline containing additives of ethyl liquid is called leaded. Leaded gasoline can be considered to contain lead from 0.013 g per cubic meter. and more.
Ethyl liquid is very effective in increasing the anti-knock properties of fuels. Adding a fraction of a percent of ethyl liquid to gasoline can increase its octane number by 5-10 points. The most effective concentration of Tetra Ethyl Lead is 0.5-0.8 g per 1 kg of gasoline.
Higher concentrations lead to increased fuel toxicity, while the detonation resistance increases slightly. As the Tetra Ethyl Lead content increases, the reliability of the engine may also decrease due to the accumulation of lead in the combustion chamber. If the fuel contains sulfur, the effectiveness of tetraethyl lead is sharply reduced, because the resulting lead sulfide prevents the decomposition of peroxides. When storing leaded gasolines, their detonation resistance decreases as a result of Tetra Ethyl Lead decomposition. This process is accelerated when the fuel contains water, precipitation, tar, storage at elevated temperatures, etc.
In the European Union, leaded gasoline was banned from January 1, 2000, although most member countries introduced such a ban much earlier.
Of course, there are a lot of octane-enhancing additives on the market, but not every one gives the desired result, if it does not cause harm to the car and the environment at all. We are sure that our TOP will help manufacturers choose an additive to get high-quality gasoline and protect consumers ' cars from possible negative consequences.