Welcome to the TIN Fuel Catalysts website.

Here you will find people and information relevant to research in tin-based fuel catalysts.

The ability of tin alloys to improve the oxidative stability and combustion properties of hydrocarbons has been known for many decades, but the science has not been commonly understood.

Fuel catalyst products, as pellets or cartridges for insertion into vehicle fuel systems, have been marketed for many years. The result has been a great deal of scepticism as well as a large number of positive testimonials. The concept was first developed Russia in WW2 for use with Hurricane aircraft.

ITRI has tracked such products for more than 10 years and used it unique knowledge of tin science to develop a viable hypothesis for the mechanism of action.

If proven, this technology has very significant potential for new tin consumption, driven as it is by global needs for more efficient use of hydrocarbon resources and cleaner combustion. As a low technology solution, it has particular relevance to energy and pollution issues in developing countries.

ITRI is keen to bring together researchers across the world who are skilled in hydrocarbon research, in particular the effect of trace metals on oxidative stability and combustion, to work on this topic. The objective is to provide a scientifically sound and commonly accepted basis for this technology.

ITRI is willing to consider offering secondments for researchers to its UK laboratories to work on supervised research programmes on this topic.