Unregulated Emissions Testing

Since the late 1970s, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has provided unique engineering and analytical services to help the automotive industry worldwide comply with requirements of the U.S. Clean Air Act.

Using a liquid chromatograph, a technician evaluates exhaust samples for a number of aldehydes and ketones including toxic formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.

In addition to monitoring regulated emissions, SwRI helps manufacturers ensure that emission control devices and engine design elements do not result in significant increases in unregulated pollutants. SwRI has numerous engine dynamometer test cells (1 to 60 hp) and several chassis dynamometers equipped with state-of-the-art sampling systems for both regulated and unregulated emissions, where engineering teams operate engines and vehicles through a number of transient cycles, including the Federal Test Procedure.

SwRI analyzes a number of pollutants including ammonia, formic and acetic acids, and sulfate, using chromatography.

In-house analytical support includes:

• Gas chromatographs equipped with a variety of detectors
  
• Liquid chromatographs
  
• Ion chromatographs
  
• Spectrophotometers

SwRI collects samples using a variety of techniques including impingers, traps, bags, and filters.

Using analytical procedures for more than 20 unregulated emissions, SwRI evaluates and reports data on such pollutants as benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, alcohols, hydrogen sulfide, 1,3-butadiene, and many others.

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