The common methods to increase the octane number of gasoline are as follows:
(1) The process method, that is, improving the oil refining process technology, such as catalytic cracking, catalytic reforming, alkylation, isomerization, etc. 
(2) The blending method, namely, adding high-octane components, such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), alcohols, etc. 
(3) The additive method, namely, adding gasoline anti-knock agent
Although the process method can significantly increase the octane number, it features the problems of large investment, limited resources and gasoline distillation range alternation. It is often difficult to achieve the optimal production combination and lacks moderate flexibility. Particularly when the high-octane gasoline is produced, it's rather difficult or costly to achieve the target merely by using the process method. As lead-free gasoline progresses, people began to use MTBE in large quantities to blend gasoline, but MTBE has the following deficiencies: 
(1) Larger addition amount (10 to 15%), expensive and low cost-effectiveness;
(2)MTBE own calorific value is low. Considerable addition will prevent the vehicle's power performance from being fully exerted; 
(3)MTBE is an oxygen-containing compound, which can increase the emission of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas pollutants. 
Given the pollution of MTBE, the current use of MTBE to blend gasoline is subject to certain restrictions. For example: Because MTBE has been banned from being used in gasoline in some parts of the United States. Practice shows that the addition of anti-knock agents can effectively improve the anti-knock performance of gasoline with good economic performance. 
The past years have seen many metal and non-metal anti-knock agents being tried. The practice shows that it has been confirmed that mangan-based organic compounds are one of the high-quality anti-knock agents. In contrast, to develop more economical and effective gasoline anti-knock agents, many researchers have tried to use metal and non-metal anti-knock agents for comparative studies. Practice has confirmed that mangan-based organic compounds are one of the excellent anti-knock agents, and its production cost has obvious advantages compared with other methods for increasing octane number. Currently, manganese-based gasoline anti-knock agents have been prevalent and become one of the best choices for producing high-grade unleaded gasoline on the market.
Pursuant to extensive research and practice, Methyl Cyclopentadiene Manganese Tricarbonyl (abbreviated as MMT), as one of the excellent manganese-based oil anti-explosion agents, enjoys an anti-explosion efficiency twice that of tetraethyl lead. Through adding mangane-based gasoline anti-knock MMT to gasoline, it can both increase the octane number of gasoline, and reduce the emissions of harmful gases such as NOx, CO, CO2 and HC in vehicle exhaust, which helps extend the service life of the vehicle's three-way catalytic converter.