UK company Quantitech Ltd is launching two mid-infrared analysers for biofuels analysis aimed at production facilities and fuel blending at distribution centres. The instruments have been specifically designed, says the company, for on-site analysis and can be operated by users having limited or even no knowledge of infrared analytical techniques.

The first - the InfraCal Filtometer - is a low-cost, single wavelength analyser that is ideal for measuring the blend ratio of biodiesel in diesel fuel or ethanol in petrol.

Since tax incentives and Government regulations are often based on the percentage of biofuel, it is important to have an accurate measurement method. The InfraCal Filtometer is compact and portable, yet easy for non-technical personnel to operate. It gives a direct readout in % biodiesel or % ethanol allowing the user to measure the blend ratio on-site immediately.

The second instrument, the InfraSpec VFA-IR Spectrometer, is a spectral range analyser capable of monitoring more than one component.  It measures the % biodiesel in diesel fuel as well as total glycerides during the biodiesel reaction process.

Using the InfraSpec Spectrometer for making pass/fail determinations for total glycerides can significantly reduce analysis time and increase reactor throughput by as much as 20%. The InfraSpec can also be used for testing free fatty acids and water in the biodiesel feedstock. It too is compact, portable and has a simplified PC interface for non-technically trained personnel.

The instrument also represents a new concept in mid-infrared instrumentation, is based on patented designs and enables the operator to obtain infrared spectra on a variety of components in the biofuels manufacturing process at a fraction of the cost of an FT-IR spectrometer.