ETHYL RENEWS REQUEST FOR HITEC 3000 APPROVAL BY EPA

Ethyl Corp. has refiled its application with the Environmental Protection Agency for approval of its HITEC 3000 gasoline additive. Ethyl sought a permit last year but withdrew the request, explaining it did not have the time in the application process to answer EPA questions about possible higher levels of hydrocarbon emissions (OGJ, Nov. 19, 1990, p. 30). Gary Ter Haar, Ethyl vice-president for health and environment, said data submitted to EPA show HITEC 3000 will significantly reduce

July 22, 1991

2 min read

Ethyl Corp. has refiled its application with the Environmental Protection Agency for approval of its HITEC 3000 gasoline additive.

Ethyl sought a permit last year but withdrew the request, explaining it did not have the time in the application process to answer EPA questions about possible higher levels of hydrocarbon emissions (OGJ, Nov. 19, 1990, p. 30).

Gary Ter Haar, Ethyl vice-president for health and environment, said data submitted to EPA show HITEC 3000 will significantly reduce automobile and refinery emissions and help refiners remove benzene and formaldehyde from gasoline.

Ter Haar said, "Each new test confirmed earlier findings that HiTEC 3000 is an efficient octane booster and a critical tool to help the U.S. achieve a safer, healthier environment. Additionally, HiTEC 3000 will make an important contribution to the current effort to produce environmentally beneficial fuels."

Ethyl originally said the manganese based additive would reduce carbon monoxide emissions 0.22 g/mile and nitrogen oxide emissions 0.11 g/mile (about 20%), lower the aromatic content in gasoline by 1.2% vol %, save about 82,000 b/d of crude, and increase octane one number.

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 said the new data show that if all gasoline contained the additive, it would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10 billion lb/year and nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions 1.7 billion lb by 1999.

Ethyl is seeking an EPA fuel additive waiver. It is required to show the additive will not harm auto emissions control systems. The additive would be used in a concentration Of 1/32 gram of manganese/gal.

EPA has until Jan. 8 to act on Ethyl's permit application.