INVESTIGATION OF THE FATE OF SPECIFIC HYDROCARBON FUEL COMPONENTS IN DIESEL-ENGINE COMBUSTION

A technique is described whereby, in separate experiments, [14C]octadecane and [14C]benzene were added as part of the fuel to a diesel engine and radiolabelled products of combustion examined by radio-GC. In an attempt to elucidate specific products of combustion [13C]benzene was included with the [14C]benzene so that 13C-products of combustion could be sought by GC-MS. Recovered radioactivity from the exhaust was 0.002% for the benzene combustion and 0.008% for the octadecane combustion. Octadecane itself was recovered in a yield of 9 × 10-4%. © 1990.