Retention and transformation system of polluting substances generated by gasoline automobiles.

Martin Morales Trejo

My research focuses on the development of a system for the retention and transformation of polluting substances generated by gasoline automobiles

In Mexico, there are around 49M automobiles; most of them use gasoline generating polluting substances, causing health and environmental issues. In consequence, standards and new technologies have been created to solve the problem; however, they are not entirely efficient or economically feasible in Mexico. Based on that, the objective of this research is to develop an affordable system that retains and transforms the pollutants generated by the gasoline automobile, which through neutralization reactions converts the oxides into harmless salts, and adsorbs the hydrocarbons by an activated carbon porous material.

I measured and calculated the concentration of each post combustion substance emitted by a 4-cylinder gasoline automobile at neutral speed (1200 rpm), then I designed and built a prototype which would be located in the exhaust pipe of the automobile to take advantage of the velocity , temperature and pressure of the gases.

The prototype was settled up in the vehicle's exhaust pipe at neutral speed in a 5-minute test which reduced the CO2 emissions up to 92.35%, hence generating carbonated salts from oxides (a product that could be reused for industrial purpose). However, it will still be necessary to carry out more experiments in different driving conditions and implement an HC and PM filter in the car to precisely define the efficiency of the system proposed.