Hydrocarbon and Aldehyde Emissions from Combustion of 2-Methylfuran

An investigation of hydrocarbon (HC) and aldehyde emissions from the combustion of 2-methylfuran (MF) was conducted, with samples taken from the exhaust of a single cylinder direct-injection spark ignition (SI) research engine. This article validates the mechanism of MF combustion, and assesses its toxic emissions. Aldehyde emissions from MF were quantitatively measured using high performance liquid chromatography, and the results were compared with those of gasoline, 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), ethanol, methanol, and n-butanol. The detected aldehydes were mainly formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Reaction pathway analyses of the combustion of MF and DMF were performed using a closed homogeneous constant volume reactor model in the Chemkin package. The formaldehyde emission was related to the side chain of MF. It was only half that of DMF and it was much lower than those of other fuels. The acetaldehyde emission from MF was also one of the lowest among all tested fuels. HCs from MF combustion were qualitatively investigated using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The exhaust spectrum detected signals from propylene, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylenes, carbonyl compounds, and furan series derivatives (furan, DMF, and furfural).