Research team from the established Slovak University of Technology developed an innovative additive for improving cetane number of diesel and biodiesel fuels. Improvement of cetane number has significant effect on the reduction of ignition delay of fuel engines. The additive is based on bio-components making it possible to increase the quality of fuel fully ecologically. Cetane number is a significant factor in the quality of the diesel fuels and has direct effect on reducing the fuel ignition delay after the injection into the combustion chamber. As a result of the short delay the engine runs smoothly with lower noise levels and decreased volume of flue gas in the exhaust phase. The production process of the fuel additive utilizes a product of renewable sources - glycerol which is in surplus on the market as it arises as a by-product of fatty acid methyl esters (bio-components for diesel fuel). Using the proposed additive helps to achieve the European Union limits on bio-component content in motor fuels. European Standard EN 590 prescribes minimal cetane number of 51 for produced diesel fuels. Using the proposed fuel additive allows you to increase the cetane number of fuel by several units. The university is looking for partners through license agreement acquisition agreement financial agreement or commercial agreement.
The main advantage of the proposed diesel or biodiesel fuel additive is the utilization of glycerol as a product of renewable sources. Thus the improvement of the fuel quality is also ecological in accordance with the European Union limits on bio-component content in motor fuels. Lower manufacturing costs are expected in comparison to currently most used diesel fuel additive ethylhexyl nitrate.