OXYGENATES FOR THE FUTURE--1: U.S. CLEAN AIR ACT EXPANDS ROLE FOR OXYGENATES

The passage of the amended Clean Air Act on November 15, 1990, established a permanent role for oxygenates in U.S. gasoline for the foreseeable future. This status for oxygenates was confirmed approximately a month later by analytical results from the first phase of the Auto/Oil Air Quality Improvement Research Program. In view of these events, this article, the first of a two part series, evaluates the potential of oxygenate candidates most likely to be included in future U.S. gasoline based on manufacturing capabilities and technology currently available. It is possible that economic-alternative compounds could surface in the future, primarily as cosolvents for methanol. Some of these compounds are also discussed.