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Influence of emulsified biodiesel on the emission and health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the vapor and particulate phases during engine combustion

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Abstract

Biofuel is a renewable energy source for transportation. Given the toxicity associated with particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is not fully understood, investigating the difference of adverse health risks posed between vapor and particulate PAH emissions from biodiesel-fueled engine combustion was the objective of this study. Three different fuel types, including typical diesel, emulsified diesel with a water fraction from 10 to 19% (v/v), and emulsified biodiesel with water (10%) and biofuel fractions from 10 to 40% (v/v), were studied. The fugacity model and risk assessment were conducted to predict the health risks when different fuels were used. In the results, the addition of water and biofuel elevated and reduced the total PAH emissions in the exhausts, respectively. After the emission, chrysene and benzo(a)anthracene were two dominant carcinogenic species in the environment. The excess cancer risk of the PAH emission significantly decreased (e.g., up to two orders of magnitude) while the emulsified biodiesel was applied, with limiting the formation of benzo(a)pyrene being the explanation. The PAH emissions with molecular weights ranging from 166 to 255 g/mol were significantly different between the vapor and particulate phases during the emulsified biodiesel combustion (p < 0.01). From the viewpoint of cancer risk, the contribution posed by the particulate PAHs was significantly greater than those by the vapor PAHs (e.g., from 54% (benzo(a)pyrene) to 76% (benzo(b)fluoranthene)). Benzo(a)pyrene and chrysene represent the species with the highest and lowest risks, respectively. The multi-ringed PAHs with four or five rings were more indicative of potential cancer risk posed by the PAHs associated with particulate matters during combustion of the emulsified biodiesel.

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Funding

This study was conducted under the auspices of National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) and Kaohsiung Medical University (NSYSU-KMU Joint Research Project, No. NSYSUKMU 105-I007). The additional financial support was from the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency (TWEPA) and Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) in Taiwan under the contract number MOST 106-EPA-F-011-001. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the institutions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan

    Wei-Hsiang Chen, Guan-Fu Chen & Yuan-Chung Lin

  2. Aerosol Science and Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan

    Wei-Hsiang Chen

Authors
  1. Wei-Hsiang Chen
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  2. Guan-Fu Chen
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  3. Yuan-Chung Lin
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Correspondence to Wei-Hsiang Chen or Yuan-Chung Lin.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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• Vapor and PM PAH emissions and risks by different fuel combustion were studied.

• Fugacity and exposure analyses were done to predict health risks for various fuels.

• Emulsified biodiesel reduced the cancer risk by PAH emission.

• Benzo(a)pyrene represents large portion of the cancer risk by PAH emission.

• Multi-ringed PAHs with 4–5 rings were indicative of cancer risk associated with PM.

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Chen, WH., Chen, GF. & Lin, YC. Influence of emulsified biodiesel on the emission and health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the vapor and particulate phases during engine combustion. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 13510–13521 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04805-y

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