Diesel Exhaust Fluid - Understanding a Future Stormwater Contaminant

Stormwater Conference

Over the past two years, extensive field and desktop assessments have been carried out by Pattle Delamore Partners (PDP), Z Energy Limited (Z) and BP Oil (New Zealand) Limited (BP) to ascertain the potential water quality effects associated with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) products.

DEF is currently used by newer heavy diesel vehicles to reduce the oxide of nitrogen (NOx) concentration in exhaust emissions. The product is comprised of purified urea (~32% or 320,000 ppm) and mineral water.

Whilst the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for DEF specifies that a large spill event will have significant effects on the environment, no concern is identified for the accumulation of minor spills or drips during a truck stop’s ‘normal’ operation. Faced with a lack of information on the potential environmental effects of this substance, both Z and BP carried out field experiments to determine the products potential environmental effects.

Using real and simulated rainfall events, water quality monitoring investigations were carried out at two truck stops to identify if environmental effects could occur whilst the truck stops were operated under ‘normal’ conditions. This paper presents the sampling methodology carried out, results obtained, and discusses the various chemical transformations that can occur as the product migrates through a stormwater network.

This paper presents the sampling methodology carried out, results obtained, and discusses the various chemical transformations that can occur as the product migrates through a stormwater network. The paper also discusses how Z and BP selected truck stops for DEF installation, and also the limited stormwater management options available in the current market to deal with the potential stormwater effects of this product.

Conference Papers Resource - Conference Papers Stormwater

3. Hayden Easton.pdf

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22 Jun 2016