The clean fuel alkylate could become a widespread alternative to diesel , thanks to the development of a safer hydrofluoric acid ( HF ) alkylation conversion process . The fuel , a type of petrol , could help meet increasingly stringent emissions standards . Researchers at US chemicals company DuPont have devised a cost - effective reactor design that combines HF conversion units with sulphuric acid conversion units , sulphuric acid being a safer option than the more volatile HF . In the UK , there are around 100 alkylation units in use with approximately half of HF alkylation technology that could be converted to sulphuric acid alkylation .
The clean fuel alkylate could become a widespread alternative to diesel, thanks to the development of a safer hydrofluoric acid (HF) alkylation conversion process. The fuel, a type of petrol, could help meet increasingly stringent emissions standards. Scientists at US chemicals giant DuPont have devised a cost-effective reactor design that replaces HF alkylation units with sulphuric acid alkylation units, sulphuric acid being a safer option than the more volatile HF. In the US, there are around 100 alkylation units in use with approximately half using HF alkylation technology that could be converted to sulphuric acid alkylation.