ROBERT F. SAWYER

 

CURRENT AND RECENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

 

 

Thermal destruction of toxic wastes, with Prof. Catherine Koshland and Dr. Donald Lucas (National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, current)

 

Included in a study of the fate of chlorinated hydrocarbons and metals in combustion processes is the development of new, in situ methods for the measurement of combustion generated pollutants, both gaseous and particulate. Excimer laser fragmentation-fluorescence spectroscopy (ELFS) provides real-time measurements at concentration at the ppt level. Recent developments in the understanding of the adverse health effects of fine particulates increases concern for the role of ultrafines and metals. This technique has application to the characterization of fine particulate emissions including metal content. Related research includes the study of particulate emissions from the burning of coal in home cooking applications and the characterization of diesel particulates.

 

Throttle position effects on motor vehicle emissions (Ford Motor Company and University of California, completed)

 

How vehicles are driven impacts pollutant emissions. The primary driver input is throttle positioning with smooth throttle control minimizing emissions. Driving during certification and in-use compliance testing of motor vehicles is conducted in a manner that minimizes emissions. The magnitude of the emissions effect of normal or rough driving is not known. We have examined time resolved throttle position and emissions records to quantify their relation and to estimate the impact of vehicle emissions.

 

Assessment of technologies and fuels with implications for regulatory policy (California Air Resources Board, current)

 

The on-going reformulation of both gasoline and diesel motor fuels is being pursued by the California Air Resources Board to reduce emissions and to accommodate the removal of methyl butyl tertiary ethyl (MBTE) from gasoline. These assessments deal with the effectiveness and problems of water emulsion diesel fuels, ethanol addition to gasoline, and reformulated diesel fuel.

 

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) combustion by products with Prof. Catherine Koshland and Dr. Donald Lucas (California Environmental Protection Agency completed)

 

MTBE was the oxygenate of choice that California refiners use to satisfy mandated oxygenate addition to reformulated gasoline (RFG). An undesired result is the contamination of water supplies through spills, leaks, and emissions from combustion engines. A literature review assembled the results of previous studies. An experimental investigation examined the combustion byproducts from MTBE. Pure MTBE, gasoline plus MTBE, commercial MTBE, and RFG without oxygenate. A flow reactor simulated combustion exhaust conditions. Product identification and quantification was by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Of particular interest were potentially toxic compounds.

 

Assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources (California Air Resources Board and California Energy Commission, current)

 

The emission of carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases, such as N2O, CFCs, and CH4 and black carbon are significant transportation related contributions to global climate change. This assessment focuses on the impact of future technologies and fuels in reducing emissions. Related research is to be conducted at the Centre for Carbon Dioxide Technology at University College London.

 

Analysis of inspection and maintenance data, with Tom Wenzel (United States Environmental Protection Agency and California Inspection and Maintenance Review Committee, completed)

 

Centralized IM240 inspection and maintenance programs generate millions of records of motor vehicle emissions. The analysis of Arizona and Colorado data provides a means of assessing the emission characteristics of the current in-use fleet including emissions levels, failure modes, model-year specific emissions, and the effectiveness of inspection and maintenance programs. The examination of additional, linked data from remote sensing studies allows assessment of the use of remote sensing in high-emitter identification and clean-screen strategies.