Temperature dependence of volatile organic compound evaporative emissions from motor vehicles

[1] A chemical mass balance approach is used to determine the relative contributions of evaporative versus tailpipe sources to motor vehicle volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Contributions were determined by reconciling time-resolved ambient VOC concentrations measured downwind of Sacramento, California, in summer 2001 with source speciation profiles. A composite liquid fuel speciation profile was determined from gasoline samples collected at Sacramento area service stations. Vapor-liquid equilibrium relationships were used to determine the corresponding headspace vapor composition. VOC concentrations measured in a highway tunnel were used to define the composition of running vehicle emissions. The chemical mass balance analysis indicated that headspace vapor contributions ranged from 7 to 29% of total vehicle-related VOC depending on time of day and day of week, with a mean daytime contribution of 17.0 +/- 0.9% ( mean +/- 95% CI). A positive association between the headspace vapor contribution and ambient air temperature was found for afternoon hours. We estimate a 6.5 +/- 2.5% increase in vapor pressure-driven evaporative emissions and at least a 1.3 +/- 0.4% increase in daily total ( exhaust plus evaporative) VOC emissions from motor vehicles per degree Celsius increase in maximum temperature.