Green chemistry design of automotive engines: chemistry approach and related issues

摘要

Automotive engines are among the major sources of ecological degradation and environmental contamination. In view of chemistry and chemical engineering, the non-green performances of automotive engines can be approached by three pseudo chemical reactors, which are respectively characteristic of combustion chemistry, lubrication chemistry and emission chemistry. In these simulative reactors, the reactants such as fuels, lubricating oils, additives and catalysts as well as their reactions of radical, tribochemical and catalytic origins are involved and interwoven. Developed from the green chemistry principles and the pseudo engine chemical reactor models, a conceptual frame of green chemistry design for automotive engines are elaborated which helps identify the technically potential chemical routes supposed to reduce or eliminate the harmful substances en route the green of automotive engines. As one important facet of green design, the green chemistry design for automotive engines is to seek the chemical compatibility of material selection, energy utilization and environment effect with the last as the core of the endeavor.