The clean fuel alkylate could become a widespread alternative to diesel , thanks to the development of a safer hydrofluoric acid ( HF ) alkylation conversion process . 1) Start a FREE TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION and gain access to all articles in the current issue of Hydrocarbon Processing magazine. 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 . 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 .