EXHAUST GASES FROM INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

<p><i>This paper presents the basic characteristics of gaseous combustion products (CO<sub>2</sub>, CO, NOx, SOx, NH<sub>3</sub>, etc.) in internal combustion engines (ICE) and their harmful impact on the environment, i.e., the ecological context. Special attention is given to the formation of CO<sub>2</sub>and CO, specifically the reaction kinetics CO<sub>2</sub>=CO+0.5·O<sub>2</sub> as the dominant gases in the exhaust gases of ICE. At an ambient temperature of 298K, the considered reaction ΔH=282990 kJ is endothermic and the equilibrium constant at normal pressure (1.013∙105Pa) is much less than one Kp’=1.40·10<sup>-45</sup>, which means that the equilibrium of the reaction is shifted to the left, towards the reactant CO<sub>2</sub>. This practically means that the formed CO<sub>2</sub> in the exhaust gases remains stable and, as a greenhouse gas, has an impact on the 'greenhouse effect.' Only at significantly high temperatures, above 2000K, does a slight formation of CO and reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> occur.</i></p> <p><strong><i>JEL</i></strong><strong><i> classification: Q53, Q42</i></strong><i></i></p>