Ethyl Corp. has withdrawn its application for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval of its HITEC 3000 gasoline additive but plans to reapply.
Ethyl said certain issues raised during EPA's review of the application could not be resolved before a Nov. 5 deadline. Discrepancies between Ethyl and EPA test data could not be explained in the 180 day review period.
The company planned to meet with EPA to define areas where the agency needs more data.
The additive, methylcyclotentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT), has been used in Canada for more than a decade in unleaded gasoline and has been used in the U.S. in leaded gasoline.
Ethyl had filed for EPA approval last May, saying MMT would reduce carbon monoxide emissions 0.22 g/mile and nitrogen oxide emissions 0.11 g/mile or about 20%, lower the aromatic content of gasoline by 1.2 vol %, save about 82,000 b/d of crude, and increase octane 1 number (OGJ, May 21, p. 26).
EPA had not approved the additive in two prior applications.
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