Method for preparing a chemical mixture to environmental specifications

Abstract

A method is provided for manufacturing a chemical mixture, such as a gasoline blend, which conforms to a set of regulations set by an outside public agency. The invention is directed to a set of regulations which require the manufacturer to prepare a master specification which sets control limits on the chemical characteristics of the chemical mixture and require that the master specification conform to a set of controlling criteria which are dependent upon such control limits--such as predicted exhaust pollution emissions from the burning of the subject gasoline blend. The method comprises the steps of: (a) blending quantities of chemical components to create a chemical mixture conforming to the controlling criteria, (b) analyzing the chemical mixture to determine the chemical characteristics of the chemical mixture, (c) preparing a test specification which conforms to the chemical characteristics of the chemical mixture, (d) determining whether the test specification conforms to the controlling criteria, and (e) accepting the test specification as the master specification if the determination in step (d) is positive.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of manufacturing a chemical mixture which conforms to a set of regulations, wherein the mixture comprises a plurality of chemical components and wherein the mixture has a plurality of chemical characteristics, the set of regulations requiring that the manufacturer prepare a master specification which sets control limits on the chemical characteristics of the chemical mixture and requiring that the master specification conform to a set of controlling criteria which are dependent upon such control limits, the method comprising the steps of: (a) blending quantities of chemical components to create a chemical mixture conforming to the controlling criteria;   (b) analyzing the chemical mixture to determine the chemical characteristics of the chemical mixture;   (c) preparing a test specification which conforms to the chemical characteristics of the chemical mixture;   (d) determining whether the test specification conforms to the controlling criteria;   (e) accepting the test specification as the master specification if the determination in step (d) is positive.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the chemical mixture is a liquid mixture. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein the chemical mixture is a gasoline blend. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein the set of regulations requires the manufacturer to prepare a master specification which sets control limits on chemical characteristics of the chemical mixture selected from the list of characteristics consisting of sulfur content, benzene content, total aromatics content, total olefin content, oxygen content, T50 and T90. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 3 wherein the controlling criteria critical comprise at least one estimate of an exhaust emission parameter. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 3 wherein the controlling criteria critical comprise an estimate of the NO x  emissions from combusting the blend in an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 3 wherein the controlling criteria critical comprise an estimate of the total hydrocarbon emissions from combusting the blend in an international combustion engine. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 3 wherein the controlling criteria critical comprise an estimate of the total toxic emissions from combusting the blend in an international combustion engine. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 wherein the estimate of the total toxic emissions from the blend comprises an estimate of the emissions of benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde from combusting the blend in an international combustion engine. 
     
     
       10. A method of manufacturing a gasoline blend which conforms to a set of regulations, wherein the mixture comprises a plurality of chemical components and wherein the mixture has a plurality of chemical characteristics including sulfur content, benzene content, total aromatics content, olefin content, oxygen content, T50 and T90, the set of regulations requiring that the manufacturer prepare a master specification which sets control limits on the chemical characteristics of the chemical mixture and requiring that the master specification conform to a set of controlling criteria which are dependent upon such control limits, the method comprising the steps of: (a) blending quantities of chemical components to create a chemical mixture conforming to the controlling criteria;   (b) analyzing the chemical mixture to determine the chemical characteristics of the chemical mixture;   (c) preparing a test specification which conforms to the chemical characteristics of the chemical mixture;   (d) determining whether the test specification conforms to the controlling criteria;   (e) accepting the test specification as the master specification if the determination in step (d) is positive.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10 wherein the controlling criteria critical comprise at least one estimate of an exhaust emission parameter. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 10 wherein the controlling criteria critical comprise an estimate of the NO x  emissions from combusting the blend in an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 10 wherein the controlling criteria critical comprise an estimate of the total hydrocarbon emissions from combusting the blend in an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 10 wherein the controlling criteria critical comprise an estimate of the total toxic emissions from combusting the blend in an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14 wherein the estimate of the total toxic emissions from the blend comprises an estimate of the emissions of benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde from combusting the blend in an internal combustion engine.