Post on 22-Dec-2015
utrf@tennessee.com
Ziling (Ben) Xue, Ph.D.Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee,
Knoxville
SIMPLE OPTICAL SENSOR FOR BIODIESEL
CONTAMINANT IN JET FUEL
Jonathan K. Fong; Roberto A. Federico-Perez
utrf.tennessee.edu
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• Sharing distribution systems with jet fuel
• Surface-active biodiesel sticking to surface
• Cross-contamination in jet fuel
• Stability and freezing point of jet fuel
• Engine problems or potential flame outs
MeO
O
MeO
O
MeO
O
Biodiesel or FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters)
Jet Fuel Contamination by Biodiesel
utrf.tennessee.edu
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GC/MS
HPLC
FT-IR
• Extensive technical training
• Large and expensive
• Off-site; lack of immediate
results
• Costly: $50k-100k
• Large and heavy: 20 kg weight
• Not sensitive: Biodiesel >20 ppm
Current Solutions
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Wavelength (nm)
400 450 500 550 600 650
Abs
orba
nce
(AU
)
0.00
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
30 ppm201050
Biodiesel Concentration (ppm)
0 10 20 30
Abs
orba
nce
(AU
)0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
Slope = 8.45 x 10-4
R2 = 0.994
Portability
Slides (1 cm2)
Spectra
Biodiesel readings
Yes NoOutput
Contamination
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Sensitive: 0.5-30 ppm (Low) Range
FAME or Biodiesel Concentration (ppm)0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Ab
sorb
an
ce (
AU
)
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18BiodieselFAME StandardsFAME Regression Line
Biodiesel Concentration (ppm)0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Abs
orb
ance
(A
U)
0.06
0.09
0.12
0.15
0.18
R2 = 0.997
Insert: Linear fit of the biodiesel response
R2 = 0.9998
Our sensor
Chem. Comm. 2013, 49, 9015
utrf.tennessee.edu
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% FAME Concentration (v/v)0510152025Ab
sorb
an
ce (
AU
)
0.200.240.280.320.360.40a = 1.983 x 10-2
x0 = -1.416 x 10-2R2 = 0.994
ln (x - x0)-4-2024Ab
sorb
an
ce (
AU
)0.240.280.320.360.40
R2 = 0.995100 ppm-20% (Mid-High) Range
A vs. ln (x – x0) (x = FAME concentration; x0 = parameter through data fitting) Chem. Comm. 2013, 49, 9015
utrf.tennessee.edu
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$50K budget
Equipment Cost Testing Cost
Current IR System $50,000 No tests/buy starter kit – 10 tests
Portable Device $1,600 200 slides/tests - $0.5 per glass slide
Difference $48,400 200 tests
96,800 more tests
Per Slide
Lab
Glass $0.05
Scale-up estimate
Glass $0.03
Plastic $0.01
Cost Structure
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$0.6 Millions $2 Millions
$1600/unit
$0.5/slide
Total Commercial Market
$4.1 Millions $15 Millions
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Aviatio
n6%
Ma-rine 14%
Unit Market
$1600/Unit
Aviation 99%
Marine 0.04%
Slide Market
$0.15 Millions$0.5/slide
Total U.S. Military Market
$2.7 Millions
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• Marine diesels
• Home-heating oil blended with biodiesels
• Truck diesel blends
• Gasolines
• Long-term fuel storage QC
Other Potential Markets
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International cargo air transportation
Expand to carrier’s passenger travel
Other markets
Market Entry and Growth
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• Cheap and fast detection of biodiesel
• Huge market with multiple possible
entry points
• Costumer diversity and multiple paths
for growth
• Strong interest from military
Summary
PI: Ziling (Ben) XueTel: 865-974-3443Email: xue@utk.edu
LA: Nghia ChiemTel: 865-974-1669
Email: nchiem@utk.edu
Contacts