Antiknocking Agents

1) Anti knocking agents are the compounds which help to increase the octane number
of the fuel decreases the knocking
2) Some of the compounds used as anti knocking agents are TFL, MTBE, etc.
3) During combustion of fuel radicals are farmed which leads to knocking. TEL (tetro
ethyl lead) couples with these radicals and it reduces the explosive nature of radicals
and thus oxygen is utilized.
4) As lead is deposited on the walls of engine TEL is mixed with scavengers like
ethylene Dibromide which leads to formation of PbBr 2. But as PbBr2 is volatile, it
harms the environment.
5) Redaction :
Pb + CH2 CH2
PbBr2+ CH2 = CH2
Lead
1
1
Lead
Br
Br
bromide
Ethylene
Dibromide
6) Catalytic converters are fitted at the end cog the exhaust and it convert very harmful
gases into less harmful gases
7) TEL does not allow use of catalytic converters as it leads to poisoning of catalyst

MTBE Use of Catalytic Converters

1) For gasoline earlier octane number was increased by adding benzene / toluene etc
But use of these hydrocarbons was later restricted due to following reasons
1. Benzene is carcinogenic
2. Toluene shows photochemical reactions.
2) To avoid these problems the aromatic hydrocarbons were replaced by oxygenates
3) Generally following oxygenates are used at a large scale
Alcohols: Methyl (or ethyl) alcohol
Ethers : Methyl (or ethyl) tertiary butyl ether
4) These oxygenates has octane ratings much higher than 100
5) Ethyl alcohol is preferred over MTBE in countries where corn/ molasses are
produced in abundance
6) But MTBE is widely used as an oxygenate in oil refineries because.

1. It can be synthesized by simple reaction of is o- butylenes with methanol

2. Industry does not have to depend on crop production for use of MTBE
Advantages of MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)
1) MTBE contains oxygen in the form of ether group which supports combustion of
petrol in I.C. engines
2) MTBE doesnt contain lead and thus excellent results are obtained
3) Protection of environment is achieved.
Disadvantages of MTBE
1) MTBE needs to be blended with gasoline at refinery
2) MTBE is poisonous hence it may pollute ground water if gasoline leaks.

Power Alcohol
1) Ethyl alcohol when mixed with some percentage of petrol in engine and used as anti
knocking agents it is known as power alcohol.
2) Blends containing upto 25% of alcohols are used. Octane number of power alcohol
is about 90.
Preparation:
1) Molasses are diluted and sulphuric acid is added to maintain pH of 4-5
2) The enzyme catalysed reaction is carried out with the help of yeast
3) The enzyme Invertase converts molasses into glucose fructose Enzyme then
selectively convert glucose into ethyl alcohol.
Reactions:
C12 H22 O11
Sucrose
C6 H12 O6
Glucose

Zymase

H2O

C6 H12 O16
Glucose

Invertase

2 C2H5OH
Ethyl alcohol

C6H12O6
Fructose

2CO2

100% pure ethyl alcohol is then collected by fractional distillation

Advantages of power alcohol
1) Power alcohol has octane number of about 90, while that of petrol is about 65. Thus
addition of ethyl alcohol in petrol increases it octane number

2) Power alcohol is cheaper than petrol

3) Ethyl alcohol contains O atoms which results in complete combustion of power
alcohol and thus avoiding harmful
4) Use of power alcohol reduces our dependence of foreign nations and thus also
saves our foreign currency
Disadvantages of power alcohol
1) Colorific value of power alcohol is less than petrol thus gives less power output
2) Oxidation of ethyl alcohol forms acetic acid which corrodes engine parts
3) Ethyl alcohol obtained by fermentation process can be added to petrol only after its
dehydration
4) As combustion of power alcohol requires lesser amount of oxygen thus carburetor
needs to be adjusted