Number

156-EN

Section

General Section

Use

Abstract

Many of the pleasure boats in the archipelago of the Swedish west coast have two-stroke engines with bad combustion, resulting in emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and other chemicals to the environment. To reduce the emissions, a cleaner petrol, so-called alkylate petrol, can be used.

Substituted substances

Alternative Substances

Reliability of information

Convergent opinions: conclusions for similar cases are similar to the ones in this case study
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication

Reason substitution

PBT

Hazard Assessment

Substances to be substituted: Regular petrol may cause cancer cat. 1B,according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). It fulfils the criteria to be listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Alternative substances: Alkylate petrol mostly contains Naphtha (petroleum), full-range alkylate, butane-containing and hydrocarbons, C≥5, C5-6-rich. Naphtha (petroleum) may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways, may cause genetic defects and may cause cancer. It is 1B carcinogen and 1B mutagen according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). Hydrocarbons, C≥5, C5-6-rich may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways, may cause genetic defects and may cause cancer. They are 1B carcinogen and 1B mutagen according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation).

Description of Substitution

There are about 600000 outboard engines in Sweden (figures from 1999). The majority of these are two-stroke engines with bad combustion. When such an engine is used, about 20-30 per cent of the fuel passes directly to the sea without being combusted at all. The remaining part, that is combusted, is to a higher extent than e.g. in four-stroke engines turned into toxic or carcinogenic compounds. The emissions contribute to pollution of water and air, and to formation of ozone at ground level. Substitute of regular fuel with alkylate petrol lowers the emissions radically, and technically it works just as good. Despite this, the use of alkylate petrol in pleasure boats remains low. A probable reason for this is that boat owners tend to use the same fuel they have always used and that it is more expensive. Alkylate petrol is formed from a refinery process called fluid catalytic cracking, resulting in a composition consisting of primarily alkanes. Alkanes are not safe for the environment and health, but they are the less hazardous of the hydrocarbons. In alkylate petrol, more hazardous hydrocarbons such as PAH, benzene, alkenes and aromatic compounds, are reduced considerably. Negative aspects of substitution are that alkylate petrol is more expensive to produce, and that the supply is limited. A majority of the alkylate petrol produced worldwide is used in car fuel, and is Sweden a big part of the consumption is for chainsaws. Due to a much better combustion in car engines, the environmental and health advantages of using the alkylate petrol in two-stroke engines instead of car fuel is considerable.

Case/substitution evaluation

Alkylate petrol is not safe for the environment and health, but when used as a substitute for regular fuel in two-stroke engines the emissions of hazardous chemicals are so much reduced that it is to be considered a safer alternative. Further research on the completely safe use should be made.

State of implementation

Full capacity

Availability of Alternative

Available on the market

Type of information supplier

Authority
Research

Contact

Grön Kemi

Further information

https://www.sxk.se/batteknik/tekniska-artiklar/mindre-gift-pa-drift-igen"> class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Mindre gift på drift igen

Type of publication and availability

Freely available

Publication source: author, company, institute, year

Grön KemI

Date, reviewed

November 26, 2021