THE OXIDATION OF N-HEPTANE IN THE PRESENCE OF OXYGENATED OCTANE IMPROVERS - MTBE AND ETBE

The oxidation of n-heptane and mixtures n-heptane-MTBE (50:50) and n-h eptane-ETBE (50:50) has been studied experimentally in a high-pressure jet-stirred reactor in a wide range of conditions covering the low an d high temperature oxidation regimes (570-1150 K, 10 atm, phi=1, 0.1% of fuel). The mole fractions of reactants, intermediates and final pro ducts have been measured. The influence of the additives on the format ion of several pollutants has been addressed. The present results clea rly show an influencing effect of MTBE and ETBE on the kinetics of n-h eptane oxidation by a reduction of the mixture reactivity in the low t emperature regime (570-800K). The results are interpreted in terms of knocking and non-knocking tendencies related to fuel structure and low temperature oxidation mechanism.