UK-based Quadrise Fuels International, the licensor and supplier of MSAR emulsion technology and fuels has announced the launch of a new sustainable fuel product bioMSAR, enabled by successful research, development and innovation activities carried out by the Company during 2020.
bioMSAR is a synthetic alternative to HFO with claimed significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. It utilises MSAR technology to combine renewable glycerol with water and refinery residues to produce an oil-in-water emulsified synthetic HFO. The primary benefits of bioMSAR over HFO are lower emissions, including 20-30% less carbon dioxide (CO2), lower NOx and lower particulates.
Glycerol is a benign chemical that’s colourless, odourless, water soluble, non-volatile and bio-degradable. As a fuel, glycerol has excellent lubricity, it burns almost pollutant-free and is virtually carbon neutral.
bioMSAR offers similar CO2 emissions reductions as using LNG in place of HFO. Quadrise makes the point that LNG requires expensive cryogenic storage and liquefaction systems, with the potential risk of methane slip during use that materially impacts potential greenhouse gas reductions. bioMSAR fuel utilises existing low-cost HFO infrastructure and systems and does not contain methane.
Production of bioMSAR utilises the same proven MSAR technology that produces oil-in-water emulsion fuel oil to reduce energy costs for consumers and improve refinery profitability and yields. bioMSAR is fully compatible and interchangeable with conventional MSAR® fuel.
A new patent has been filed in the UK jointly with Quadrise’s intellectual property partner Nouryon Surface Chemistry AB.
Having completed successful laboratory and pilot-scale testing of bioMSAR, Quadrise is now working with industry partners to test the fuel in both diesel engine and combustion applications. Whilst remaining subject to subsequent larger scale studies, the Company considers that bioMSAR has the ability to fundamentally enhance the environmental and sustainability credentials of MSAR and, in time, to increase the market opportunity for Quadrise.
Jason Miles, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The development and launch of bioMSAR is a real success story for the Company. Having planned a roadmap for a sustainable fuel product earlier in the year, the innovative Quadrise team has made outstanding progress in bringing our glycerol-based biofuel from concept to market in such a short time, including the filing of a new joint patent application with Nouryon. Our original target for bioMSAR was a 10-20% reduction in CO2 compared with heavy fuel oil, however 20-30% has been achieved already which compares favourably with LNG, albeit at a much lower cost for conversion. The inherent stability of our water-based fuel technology lends itself well to future biofuel applications to provide a simple and sustainable pathway to decarbonisation. We look forward to updating shareholders, as appropriate, on the results from planned engine and combustion testing of bioMSAR, new fuel developments, and commercial discussions with stakeholders in the biofuel supply chain during the coming months”.
