Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) Portable Detection Device for Fuel Contamination (JP-8, Jet, and Diesel)

Alternative fuels have become a focal point for DoD programs. With the recent mandates to use alternative fuels, refineries have been forced to blend biofuels (including FAME biodiesel) into conventional fuels; which are then introduced into the existing distribution infrastructure. FAME contamination into jet fuels has become a problem as pipeline trail back has already been confirmed. Currently there are 3 published (accepted) methods for the detection of FAME in Jet. These are IP585 a GC-MS method, IP590 a HPLC-ELSD method, and, IP583 a FTIR method. Two of these methods, IP585, and IP590 use high end, complex chromatography solutions, which are not then suitable for mobile laboratory use. The IP583 FTIR method is simpler, self-contained, and detects all FAMEs in the C8 to C22 range. During Phase I we demonstrated the ability of the proven IP-583 method to achieve the Armys goals of a system with the ability to automatically detect fuel type, provide a FAME detection dynamic range 100 PPM to 7%, while meeting the objective of an instrument suitable for use in the Armys Mobile Fuel Laboratory. In Phase II we will build test and certify using industry standard ASTM inter-laboratory test procedures a Multi-Fuel Fame Detector, (MFFD), instrument that meets the Armys needs to detect and measure the level of FAME contamination onsite at their critical forward operating fuel supplies.