MEDIA RELEASE - CETC-OTTAWA PATENTS DESULFURIZATION PROCESS

OTTAWA - Two CETC-Ottawa senior scientists have successfully applied for U.S. patent #6,673,236, "Method for the production of hydrocarbon fuels with ultra-low sulphur content". In just "one-step", the process can drastically reduce sulfur compounds in diesel fuel.

"In recent experiments we were able to reduce sulfur in a diesel fuel from 420 parts per million (ppm) to less than 30 ppm in a single step", states Dr. Michio Ikura, one of the inventors of the process. Both inventors M. Ikura (mikura@nrcan.gc.ca) and M. Stanciulescu (mstanciu@nrcan.gc.ca) anticipate that their invention could be effective and efficient in the production of ultra-low sulfur diesel on an industrial scale-- without the need of expensive hydrogen and at relatively low temperature. Unlike existing techniques, this invention uses ethanol in a catalytic oxidation / extraction process to achieve much lower levels of sulfur.

"The next step is to scale-up the process and adapt it for continuous operation", says Roy Prokopuk (prokopuk@nrcan.gc.ca), CETC-Ottawa's Senior Principal Business Development, Marketing & Communications Officer. "Like most of our projects, we work with the private sector to ensure the successful transition of technology idea to commercial application. This patent is rather exciting in its ability to produce low-sulfur diesel simply and cheaply."

The invention is particularly timely as many governments consider more stringent controls on transportation and heating fuels, such as lower sulfur and particulate emissions.

CETC-Ottawa has a long track record for producing and supporting innovative clean energy technologies. As a key research arm of Natural Resources Canada (www.nrcan.gc.ca) CETC-Ottawa works with private and other public sector partners to develop and deploy leading-edge energy products and processes for virtually all sectors of the Canadian economy. CETC has world-class laboratory facilities and employs some 180 people.

From alternative energy to zero-emission vehicles, CETC-Ottawa fuels innovation. Visit us at www.cetc-ctec.gc.ca.

U.S. patent #6,673,236, "Method for the production of hydrocarbon fuels with ultra-low sulphur content".

Private interests are invited to contact Roy Prokopuk (prokopuk@nrcan.gc.ca) to form a partnership in advancing the process to a pilot-scale.