Removal of polynuclear aromatic compounds from motor vehicle fuel

Fuel filter for the fueling system of an automotive vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, said fueling system including a fuel line for delivering fuel to said engine, said fuel filter comprising a housing having an inlet connected in said fuel line for receiving fuel and an outlet connected in said fuel line through which fuel is communicated to said internal combustion engine, said housing defining a flow path between the inlet and outlet for communicating fuel from said inlet to said outlet, and an activated charcoal sorbent for removing polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon compounds from said fuel, said sorbent being located within said housing in said flow path, said flow path including means for directing substantially all of the fuel communicated through said inlet through the sorbent.

Fuel filter for an internal combustion engine comprising a housing having an inlet for receiving fuel and an outlet through which fuel is communicated to said internal combustion engine, said housing defining a flow path between the inlet and outlet for communicating fuel from said inlet to said outlet, an activated charcoal sorbent for removing polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon compounds from said fuel, said sorbent being located within said housing in said flow path so that substantially all of the fuel communicated through said inlet is also communicated through the sorbent, and filtering media for removing contaminants from said fuel mounted in said housing downstream from said sorbent whereby said fuel communicated from said inlet first through said sorbent and then through said filtering media.