Concawe

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC)offersunrivaled separation of petroleum substances, which can contain thousandsof constituents or more. However, interpreting substance compositionsfrom GCxGC data is costly and requires expertise. To facilitate environmentalrisk assessments, industries provide aggregated compositional informationknown as “hydrocarbon blocks” (HCBs), but these proprietarymethods do not transparently associate the HCBs with GCxGC chromatogramdata. These obstacles frustrate efforts to study the environmentalrisks of petroleum substances and associated environmental samples.To address this problem, we developed a GCxGC elution model for user-definedpetroleum substance compositions. We calibrated the elution modelto experimental GCxGC retention times of 56 known hydrocarbons byfitting three tunable model parameters to two candidate instrumentmethods. With the calibrated model, we simulated retention times fora library of 15,447–15,455 hydrocarbon structures (plus 40–48predicted as chromatographically unretained) spanning 11 classes ofpetroleum substance constituents in the C10–C30 range. The resulting simulation data reveal that GCxGC retentiontimes are quantitatively associated with hydrocarbon class and carbonnumber information throughout the GCxGC chromatogram. These innovationsenable the development of transparent and efficient technical methodsto investigate the chemical compositions and environmental propertiesof petroleum substances, including in environmental and lab-weatheredsamples.

Bioaccumulation (B) assessment is challenging because there are various B‐metrics from laboratory and field studies, multiple criteria and thresholds for classifying bioaccumulative (B), very bioaccumulative (vB), and not bioaccumulative (nB) chemicals, as well as inherent variability and uncertainty in the data. These challenges can be met using a weight of evidence (WoE) approach. The Bioaccumulation Assessment Tool (BAT) provides a transparent WoE assessment framework that follows Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) principles for performing a WoE analysis. The BAT guides an evaluator through the process of data collection, generation, evaluation, and integration of various lines of evidence (LoE) (i.e., B‐metrics) to inform decision‐making. Phenanthrene (PHE) is a naturally occurring chemical for which extensive B and toxicokinetics data are available. A B assessment for PHE using the BAT is described that includes a critical evaluation of 74 measured in vivo LoE for fish and invertebrate species from laboratory and field studies. The number of LoE are reasonably well balanced across taxa (i.e., fish and invertebrates) and the different B‐metrics. Additionally, in silico and in vitro biotransformation rate estimates and corresponding model‐predicted B‐metrics are included as corroborating evidence. Application of the BAT provides a consistent, coherent, and scientifically defensible WoE evaluation to conclude that PHE is not bioaccumulative (nB) because the overwhelming majority of the bioconcentration, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification metrics for both fish and invertebrates are below regulatory thresholds. An analysis of the relevant data using fugacity ratios is also provided, showing that PHE does not biomagnify in aquatic food webs. The critical review identifies recommendations to increase the consistency of B assessments, such as improved standardization of B testing guidelines, data reporting requirements for invertebrate studies, and consideration of temperature and salinity effects on certain B‐metrics. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:911–925. © 2021 Concawe. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">Future vehicles will increasingly be required to improve their efficiency, reduce both regulated and CO₂ emissions, and maintain acceptable levels of driving, safety, and noise performance. To achieve this high level of performance, they will be configured with more advanced hardware, sensors, and control technologies that will also enable their operation on a broader range of fuel properties. These capabilities offer the potential to design future vehicles to operate on the most widely available and GHG-reducing fuels.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">In previous studies, fuel flexibility has been demonstrated on a compression ignition bench engine and vehicle equipped with an advanced engine management system, closed-loop combustion control, and air-path control strategies. An unresolved question is whether engines of this sort can operate routinely on market gasoline while achieving diesel-like efficiency and acceptable emissions and noise levels.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">This paper describes initial engineering and experimental steps to assess this potential. Using an advanced diesel bench engine having a higher compression ratio, optimized valve timing, and flexible fuel injection, the engine could be operated on a European market gasoline over full to medium part loads. The combustion was found to be highly sensitive to EGR rates, however, and the simultaneous optimization of all regulated emissions and combustion noise was a considerable challenge. An advanced glow plug was tested to improve low load performance but did not extend the engine operating range as much as expected.</div></div>

Concern about global climate change, and the challenges and risks it poses, will require sustained efforts to develop understanding and effective solutions while at the same time meeting the growing needs of society for energy. The development and utilization of technologies to capture and then store CO2 in underground formations offer significant potential for reducing CO2 emissions. This paper is based on the outcomes of an IPIECA workshop to advance understanding of the role of CO2 capture and geologic storage, and strategies to improve its performance and prospects. It considers CO2 capture and geological storage as a potential option for reducing future emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) from the extraction of resources, the production and use of fuels, and the generation of electricity. In doing so it examines: roles CO2 capture and geologic storage may play over the next century extending from the current assessment of this technology family; risk management to ensure safe and secure geologic storage drawing from understanding and past experiences; public perception, policy and regulatory frameworks that pose opportunities and barriers for CO2 capture and geologic storage and; initiatives and strategies to advance CO2 capture and geologic storage by reducing cost and risk, and developing sound regulatory and policy frameworks to encourage development of options for deep reductions in CO2 emissions.

<div class="htmlview paragraph">The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in mass and number based heavy duty diesel engine particle emissions with respect to various test conditions, engine technologies and fuel specifications. Comparative particle size data and regulated particulate matter are presented from three heavy duty engines and three fuels.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">This paper describes results from the DETR/CONCAWE/SMMT Particle Research Programme. Three heavy duty diesel (HDD) engines representing Euro I, II and III technologies were tested with a range of fuels. These fuels included UK ultra low sulphur diesel (UK-ULSD), EN590 (EU2000) specification and Swedish Class I fuels.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Continuing research suggests that when changes in regulated particulate mass emissions are compared to both individual mode and total cycle mass and number weighted particle size distributions there is often no significant correlation. In an attempt to provide further data in this area the following measurement methodology was adopted.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Two Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) instruments measuring number weighted particle size distribution were employed in order to cover a measurement range from ∼7nm to ∼710nm. The different configurations used with these two instruments operating over separate size ranges resulted in differences in the results obtained in the overlap region. Because of the perceived importance of the smallest particle range, the instrument measuring the lowest range (7-320 nm) was selected for data comparison. Conclusions may not be supported by a similar SMPS system working under an alternative configuration. Within this paper conclusions are therefore based upon data from that system only.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Particle mass measurements were undertaken via the regulated method and with a Micro Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor (MOUDI) covering a size range from <56nm to 10μm measuring the mass weighted size distribution. In addition to the particle size distribution, particulate matter and other regulated emissions were measured as mass emissions. Chemical composition of selected particulate samples was undertaken.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">The paper concludes that in these tests, at the accumulation mode between 50 and 320 nm, engine effects were greater than fuel effects, with particle numbers in general reducing with advanced engine technology when tested over regulated cycles. Nanoparticles however, seemed to be more sensitive to fuels. These particles were clearly more variable and sensitive to sampling conditions than the accumulation mode particles. Nanoparticles were observed to be more sensitive to fuels. More research in this area is required. As expected, the Swedish Class 1 fuel tended to achieve lower regulated cycle emissions in all three engines tested than the other fuels.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">None of the engine technologies or fuel specifications tested reduced particulate mass, nanoparticles (in the SMPS size range 7nm to ∼50nm) and accumulation mode particles (50nm to 320nm) concurrently at all test conditions.</div>