Modifying the process of producing biofuels could help reduce tailpipe emissions of nano-particles from vehicles and help improve air quality, a study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has said.
The findings of the study, conducted by TERI in collaboration with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and Finland's Tampere University, was released on Wednesday at a conference on 'Opportunities with Bio-fuel: Co-benefit of Air Quality Improvement' here.
Tailpipe emissions result from fuel combustion in a vehicle's engine. Emissions of primary concern include hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), air toxics, and CO2. Biofuels include bio-diesel, bio-CNG among others.
The study suggested modifications in India's bio-fuel policy to address the tailpipe emission of nano-particles (particles between 1 and 100 nanometres).
A biofuel is produced through contemporary processes from biomass, rather than a fuel produced by the very slow geological processes involved in the formation of fossil fuels, such as oil.
The National Biofuel Policy helps reduce the tailpipe emissions of particulate matter but it increases the nanoparticle emissions in the atmosphere, a TERI official said, adding that airborne nanoparticles (lesser than 200 nm) from diesel-powered vehicles are more harmful to human health than fine particulates (including PM2.5 and PM10).
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"These nanoparticles can cross the blood-air barrier in lungs, and also easily penetrate animal and plant cells, causing unknown long-term effects. At present, there is no regulation in India related to nanoparticle emissions. There is also a scarcity of studies to inform such potential regulations," the organisation said.
The study's findings were shared through a position paper released at the conference which was attended by Ritva Koukku-Ronde, Finland's Ambassador to India, apart from Reji Mathai, General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) Research and Development Centre, Faridabad, and others.
"We felt the issue of nano-particles was not on the focus of scientists and policy makers. Biofuels provide us with energy security and have a huge benefit in air quality, but there are also challenges in the kinds of biofuels that we use," said Ajay Mathur, Director General, TERI.
He said, "We should take the advantage of bringing biofuels in, but do it in a manner that makes sure we do not inject a greater degree of environmental hazard into our lives. This would have technical and policy ramifications.
"Looking at the kind of technical specs we have and the changes in biofuel policy together could help us move ahead in a manner that synergizes benefits and minimizes, or hopefully eliminates, the additional vulnerabilities created."
She added, "Apart from global warming, cities across the world are struggling with air pollution. According to various studies recently, the impact of air pollution on human health is far more dangerous than previously thought."
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