Automobile Emissions:The Combustion Process
The Combustion Process Gasoline and diesel fuels are mixtures of hydrocarbons, compounds which contain hydrogen and carbon atoms. In a “perfect” engine, oxygen in the air would convert all the hydrogen in the fuel to water and all the carbon in the fuel to carbon dioxide. Nitrogen in the air would remain unaffected. In reality, the combustion process cannot be “perfect,” and automotive engines emit several types of pollutants. “Perfect” Combustion FUEL (hydrocarbons) + AIR (oxygen and nitrogen) CARBON DIOXIDE + water + unaffected nitrogen Typical Engine Combustion FUEL + AIR UNBURNED HYDROCARBONS + NITROGEN OXIDES + CARBON MONOXIDE + CARBON DIOXIDE + water