Regulations
Gasoline is subject to many local, national, and international regulations. New
regulations affecting gasoline composition have been enacted in most regions of
the world, driving the increase in demand for clean fuels. These regulations include
many clean fuel initiatives, such as lead phaseout, minimization of RVP, limits on
sulfur, benzene, aromatics, and olefin content, and addition of oxygenates. For
example, Euro 5 motor fuel specifications, last updated in 2009, limit aromatics to
35 vol.%, olefins to 18 vol.%, and benzene to 1 vol.% maximum. Half a decade
later, many non-EU countries are still in the planning phases of implementing either
Euro IV or Euro V specifications. Refer to Table 1 for Euro I–V gasoline specifications (Euro Fuel Specifications).
In the USA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets the fuel standards, with some variations from state to state, and California is generally being
most stringent. Gasoline specifications are set by CARB, or the California Air
Resources Board, and have the following fuel specifications that are similar to
Euro V: 35 vol.% aromatics, maximum; 1.1 vol.% benzene, max; 10 vol.% olefins,
max; 10 vol.% ethanol, min; RVP 6.4–7.2 psi; and sulfur <20 wt ppm. It should
also be noted that the US EPA’s Tier 3 sulfur limits have been set to 10 wt ppm
maximum by 2017.
As indicated above, benzene content in gasoline is one component broadly
regulated. For instance, in the USA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
has implemented a Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) rule to reduce hazardous air
pollutants (US EPA 2014). As of 2011, the EPA requires that refiners must
meet a maximum annual average gasoline benzene content of 0.62 vol.%.
The maximum permissible level is 1.3 vol.% as of July 2012. These are applied
to US refiners, as well as to gasoline imported to the USA. There are numerous
Table 1 Euro fuel specifications
Euro fuel
specifications
Directive
EN
228
DIR
98/70
DIR
98/70
DIR
98/70
DIR
98/70
Year
1993
1996
2000
2005
2009
Class
Euro 1
Euro 2
Euro 3
Euro 4
Euro 5
Aromatics Vol
%
Max
No
limit
No limit
42
35
35
Olefins
Vol
%
Max
No
limit
No limit
18
18
18
Benzene
Vol
%
Max
5
5
1
1
1
Oxygen
Wt
%
Max
2.5
2.5
2.7
2.7
3.7
Sulfur
ppm
Max
1,000
500
150
50
10
RON
Min
91
92
93
94
95
RVP
kPa
35–100 35–100
60–70
60–70
60–70
Lead
g/lt
Max
0.013
0.013
None
None
None
484
D. Sullivan et al.
Gasoline is subject to many local, national, and international regulations. New
regulations affecting gasoline composition have been enacted in most regions of
the world, driving the increase in demand for clean fuels. These regulations include
many clean fuel initiatives, such as lead phaseout, minimization of RVP, limits on
sulfur, benzene, aromatics, and olefin content, and addition of oxygenates. For
example, Euro 5 motor fuel specifications, last updated in 2009, limit aromatics to
35 vol.%, olefins to 18 vol.%, and benzene to 1 vol.% maximum. Half a decade
later, many non-EU countries are still in the planning phases of implementing either
Euro IV or Euro V specifications. Refer to Table 1 for Euro I–V gasoline specifications (Euro Fuel Specifications).
In the USA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets the fuel standards, with some variations from state to state, and California is generally being
most stringent. Gasoline specifications are set by CARB, or the California Air
Resources Board, and have the following fuel specifications that are similar to
Euro V: 35 vol.% aromatics, maximum; 1.1 vol.% benzene, max; 10 vol.% olefins,
max; 10 vol.% ethanol, min; RVP 6.4–7.2 psi; and sulfur <20 wt ppm. It should
also be noted that the US EPA’s Tier 3 sulfur limits have been set to 10 wt ppm
maximum by 2017.
As indicated above, benzene content in gasoline is one component broadly
regulated. For instance, in the USA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
has implemented a Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) rule to reduce hazardous air
pollutants (US EPA 2014). As of 2011, the EPA requires that refiners must
meet a maximum annual average gasoline benzene content of 0.62 vol.%.
The maximum permissible level is 1.3 vol.% as of July 2012. These are applied
to US refiners, as well as to gasoline imported to the USA. There are numerous
Table 1 Euro fuel specifications
Euro fuel
specifications
Directive
EN
228
DIR
98/70
DIR
98/70
DIR
98/70
DIR
98/70
Year
1993
1996
2000
2005
2009
Class
Euro 1
Euro 2
Euro 3
Euro 4
Euro 5
Aromatics Vol
%
Max
No
limit
No limit
42
35
35
Olefins
Vol
%
Max
No
limit
No limit
18
18
18
Benzene
Vol
%
Max
5
5
1
1
1
Oxygen
Wt
%
Max
2.5
2.5
2.7
2.7
3.7
Sulfur
ppm
Max
1,000
500
150
50
10
RON
Min
91
92
93
94
95
RVP
kPa
35–100 35–100
60–70
60–70
60–70
Lead
g/lt
Max
0.013
0.013
None
None
None
484
D. Sullivan et al.