Alternative fuels are an important part of the 21st Century shift away from fossil fuels, but they must be tested to assure that they will not impede the performance of the engines they fuel. Good quality biodiesel fuel prevents: engine shutdown due to excessively high glycerin, engine corrosion from oxidation due to high fuel acidity, unscheduled maintenance, and supply chain interruptions. Although many laboratory instruments can test biodiesel, they are expensive, require skilled operators, generate delays in providing results, and are not available on-site. Overcoming all of these limitations is the i-SPEC Q-100, a handheld analyzer that enables users to detect total glycerin, acid number, and methanol, and measure diesel/biodiesel fuel blend percentages. Developed by researchers at Paradigm Sensors, LLC, Milwaukee, Wisc., jointly with researchers from Marquette Univ., also in Milwaukee, the i-SPEC uses impedance spectroscopic analysis and biodiesel composition characteristics to test for all four parameters at once. Because it is handheld, the i-SPEC enables fast, economical testing of biodiesel at all points along the supply chain.

Paradigm Sensors, LLC, www.paradigmsensors.com