Tuning a methodology to assess the environmental impact of lubricating oil
The project focused on the effect of lubricating oil on carbon pollutants emitted (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nanoparticles, and particulate matter) from a spark-ignition direct-injection engine powered by hydrogen. The development of a specific method for analyzing the produced species enabled the identification and measurement of the emitted pollutants for the assessment of the environmental impact of lubricating oil. PAHs and nanoparticles were found in the exhaust of the hydrogen-powered engine under all investigated conditions of engine speed and load, so their emission is independent of engine operation. However, it was found that incomplete combustion of the oil leads to soot formation only at higher temperatures, that is, at higher engine speeds. The results are preliminary to the development of specific sensors for detecting pollutant species and the formulation of low environmental impact oils.
