Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups working on solutions for the materials sector. As there is a large number of startups working on a wide variety of solutions, we decided to share our insights with you. This time, we are taking a look at 5 promising fuel additive solutions.
Heat Map: 5 Top Fuel Additive Solutions
Using our StartUs Insights Platform, covering 1.116.000+ startups & emerging companies, we looked at innovation in the field of materials. For this research, we identified 119 relevant solutions and picked 5 to showcase below. These companies were chosen based on a data-driven startup scouting approach, taking into account factors such as location, founding year, and technology among others. Depending on your specific criteria, the top picks might look entirely different.
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 startups & emerging companies developing innovative fuel additive solutions. Moreover, the Heat Map reveals regions that observe a high startup activity and illustrates the geographic distribution of all 119 companies we analyzed for this specific topic.
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Purify Fuel – Combustion Catalyst
Combustion of fossil fuels for power generation produces polluting nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, and hydrocarbons. Catalytic combustion is a technology that speeds up various desired reactions, as the fuel burns in less time. Moreover, advances in combustion systems and catalysts offer greener alternatives to conventional combustion.
The US-based startup Purify Fuel develops a nanotechnology-based combustion catalyst. The startup’s fuel additive, nanO2, optimizes fuel combustion to increase fuel efficiency and protect engines. The cetane-boosting solution lowers the pressure required for ignition and, consequently, lowers combustion and exhaust temperatures. This additive keeps fuel injectors clean and lowers emissions of polluting oxides. This solution is suitable for tackling the challenges facing the use of diesel.
Fluid Efficiency – Drag Reducing Agents
Fuel moving through pipelines experiences high turbulence and requires large amounts of energy to transport. Drag reducing agents (DRA) are fuel additives that make the flow more laminar, thereby, saving energy. However, these are mainly heavy polymers that break down under stress and need to be re-injected at different points along the pipeline. Startups are working on solutions to improve the stability of DRA.
The US-based startup Fluid Efficiency offers fuel additives based on self-assembling polymers. MegaSupraMolecules are large supramolecules that serve as DRA to improve the flow of fuel in pipelines. Since these are self-repairing entities, they are able to withstand high temperatures and high shear conditions. This also ensures that a single injection of these DRA is sufficient.
Advanced Chemical Synthesis and Manufacturing (ACSYNAM) – Solid Fuel Components
As space technologies gain more traction, there is an increasing demand for economical propellant alternatives. Propulsion has several ground use-cases as well, particularly in transportation. Fuel additives such as stabilizers, oxidizers, or retardants alter the combustion properties of propellants. Startups are exploring methods for the eco-friendly synthesis of solid fuel components with desirable properties.
Canadian startup ACSYNAM develops metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of porous materials. ACSYNAM offers tunable fuels and additives that solve propulsion challenges. The startup produces MOFs from supercritical carbon dioxide in an economical and eco-friendly manner. These find applications as components of next-generation solid fuels.
Calyxia – Sustainable Lubricants
Lubricant additives represent organic or inorganic compounds that make up a significant portion of the oil volume, depending on the machinery. They serve as antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, and antifoam agents, thus, decreasing undesirable greasiness. However, their production usually involves several polluting steps. To mitigate their impact on the environment, startups are working on sustainable biodegradable lubricants that have better durability.
French startup Calyxia uses formulation chemistry to produce novel lubricants. The startup’s versatile platform enables industrial production of size-controlled capsules that have high active ingredient containment, protection, and delivery. Calyxia’s lubricants contain fewer ingredients and allow for greater durability and energy efficiency. The platform also finds applications in the production of adhesives, sealants, coatings, pesticides, and fabric care products.
Vertoro – Biofuel Additives
Biofuels usually originate from biomass and are considered to be a form of renewable energy since their source is easily replenishable, for example, agricultural waste. While engines can run on pure biofuels, their use as additives with gasoline is more common. Biofuel additives developed by emerging companies enhance the octane rating of the fuel and also reduce their carbon footprint.
Vertoro is a Dutch startup that offers a lignin-based platform for applications in fuel, chemicals, and materials. Goldilocks starts with plant-based lignin in woody mass, which is then mixed with a solvent and heated. As a biofuel additive, it replaces a fraction of diesel to provide a relatively eco-friendly alternative. It also confers other desirable properties, acting as an antioxidant and a flame retardant.
What About The Other 114 Solutions?
While we believe data is key to creating insights it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive overview and provide actionable innovation intelligence so you can achieve your goals faster. The 5 fuel additive solutions in materials showcased above are promising examples out of 119 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria, get in touch.
