We summarize the characteristics of CO, HC, NOx, CO2, and particulate emissions, main atmospheric pollutants, from methanol-gasoline blended fuels and pure methanol fuel. CO, HC, CO2, particle mass (PM), and particle number (PN) emissions decrease when methanol-blended fuel is used in place of gasoline fuel. NOx emission either decreases or increases depending on the test conditions, i.e., methanol content. Pure methanol reduces all pollutants compared to gasoline.
Furthermore, this study synthesizes the mechanisms by which methanol-blended fuel influences pollutant emissions. Compared to gasoline, methanol has a lower carbon content, lower C/H ratio, presence of oxygen, non-presence of C-C bond and aromatic component, lower boiling point, and lower CO2 formation per unit energy. These physicochemical characteristics are fully embodied during the combustion process, so the pollutant emissions are reused compared to gasoline.
The research results have been published in the journal "Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering" under the title of "Impacts of methanol fuel on vehicular emissions: A review" (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-022-1553-4).
