Mossgas "gas-to-liquid" diesel fuels - an environmentally friendly option

This paper presents a brief summary and comparison of heavy vehicle emissions using Mossgas synthetically derived diesel as opposed to a US Regular Federal 49-state number 2 diesel fuel. A series of engine dynamometer and heavy-duty chassis dynamometer tests were performed at West Virginia University early in 1999. The Mossgas gas-to-liquid (GTL) low sulphur diesel fuel is produced primarily by the conversion of olefins to distillate (COD) process in conjunction with a high temperature Fisher-Tropsch technology process. Findings were that there were significant emission benefits when using Mossgas GTL diesel fuel. Oxides of nitrogen (NO,) and particulate matter (PM) emissions were substantially lower when compared to normal fossil fuel-derived diesel. Additionally the benefits have been found to cut across different engine technologies, various test cycles, engine age (1991-1999), as with or without engine aftertreatment catalysts. The Mossgas GTL diesel meets the world-wide challenge to produce environmentally friendly transportation fuels and sets the benchmark for future diesel specifications. Accordingly Mossgas has petitioned the US Department of Energy to register this fuel as an alternative fuel under its EPACT program [1,2]. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.