Octane Additives

How does an octane booster deliver fuel efficiency?
As environmental challenges increase across the world, having an efficient fuel-production process is more important than ever. Meeting mandatory octane levels in fuels requires efficient refineries, and Afton’s manganese-based mmt^® octane booster can help.

What is octane?     
Octane ratings are standard measurements of fuel quality. The higher the octane number, the more efficiently it can be compressed and combusted in the engine. 

Engine compression ratios are related to thermodynamic efficiency, and higher octane fuels allow higher compression ratios to be employed. Engines with higher compression ratios develop more power (refer to Otto-Cycle curve), and thus extract more energy from a given quantity of fuel. Read more here. 

How does octane affect me?
Whether you live in Canada, Central America or Singapore, you want your car to run efficiently and effectively. It should provide good fuel economy and financial savings, while minimizing adverse environmental effects. For this to happen, you not only need the right car, but also the right fuel to ensure your car runs properly. 

So what happens if you fuel your new, high-performance car with low-octane petrol? Your car will run less efficiently, not deliver its designed performance and potentially experience engine damage over time.

 
How do you produce high octane? 
There are several pathways to high octane. Some methods are based on refinery processes, while others focus on the use of additives or high-octane blending components. The choice is often made depending on the socio-economic situation of a specific market.

In many instances, the most cost-effective option is Afton’s specialty chemical, mmt^®.

What is mmt^®’s impact on octane?
The most cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution to raise octane is usually mmt^®, a manganese-based fuel additive. It is used in over 150 refineries and blenders in 53 countries.

Just one drop of mmt^® in a litre of fuel increases octane by two numbers, allowing refineries to operate with greater energy efficiency.

mmt^® can have a positive economic impact at the refinery and with end users. 

Improved large-scale economics
mmt^® optimises production by reducing energy consumption during refining. For example, this saved China over 40 million barrels of crude oil in a single year. Normally, reaching octane targets necessitates heavy investments. Afton’s patented mmt^® octane additive provides an efficient and flexible solution to easily meet octane quality requirements. 

mmt^® is the most economic route to octane, as it enables the delivery of economic and on-specification gasoline – whatever the octane target. It is also compatible with biofuel components.



mmt^® – reduced energy consumption for the individual
By enhancing octane number, mmt^® also improves engine efficiency, resulting in decreased fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

mmt^® can increase gasoline octane quality without increasing energy consumption. It provides wear protection for older vehicles and maintains modern vehicle emissions systems at optimum performance. An increase in octane number can deliver a 1 to 2 percent increase in fuel efficiency –or about 1.2 billion gallons of saved gas each year in the U.S. 

Does mmt^® save energy?
Yes, mmt^® enables cleaner burning gasoline. It can reduce refinery CO2 emissions by around 3.5 percent and achieve up to 3 percent in energy savings. 

Is mmt^® good for the environment?
Yes, mmt^® enables refineries to reduce aromatic levels in fuel, including benzene and other toxic components. 

The introduction of vehicles fitted with exhaust after-treatment technologies over the past several decades has contributed to cleaner air by reducing vehicle emissions. High-quality fuels, which enable introduction of even more advanced emission-control technologies, are a key factor in further improving air quality. Mmt^® is compatible with these advanced technologies, providing protection to catalytic converters and supporting the advancement of clean fuel policies worldwide.

Manganese and human health 
Manganese is an essential element to human health and the 12th most abundant element on earth.

Manganese is naturally present in the air we breathe and present in many of the foods consumed worldwide, including tea, bread and bananas. Most multivitamin tablets also contain manganese as an essential mineral supplement. 

Manganese is a key element in the mmt^® formula. For that reason, in-depth studies have been carried out over time by public authorities to ensure that mmt^® use is safe for environment and human health.

Click here to view the International Manganese Institute video on manganese.

Results of key scientific studies in Canada
Testing has shown that the body has mechanisms to handle a wide range of manganese intake, whether from inhalation or ingestion.  While these mechanisms can be overwhelmed if exposures to manganese are very high, testing confirms the body can safely handle inhaled manganese at and well above exposures at environmental levels, whether mmt^® is used or not.  

The use of mmt^® contributes a negligible amount of manganese to natural levels found in air, soil, and water. Air manganese levels when mmt^® is in use are well below all world safety concentration, therefore mmt^®’s use is safe for the entire population.



The mmt^® octane additive has been found to be safe in numerous health assessments by the U.S. EPA, Health Canada and many others. All have concluded that the mmt^® fuel additive’s use in gasoline presented no increased risk to human health.

The results and correspondence related to the testing program is posted on the U.S. EPA website at www.regulations.gov, (docket number EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0074).

Afton’s mmt^® is the only manganese-based fuel additive fully tested, and approved by the U.S. EPA, and registered in the European Union under the European Chemicals System (REACH).

Results of the EU study
Afton’s mmt^® is also the only metallic fuel additive to have been assessed by using the European Commission’s methodology for the evaluation of effects of metallic fuel-additives. This latest assessment reasserted the findings of previous studies: 

“Based on a comprehensive risk assessment for mmt^® and its transformation products, when mmt^® is used as a fuel additive in petrol, no significant human health or environmental concerns related to exposure to either mmt^® or its transformation products (manganese phosphate, manganese sulphate and manganese tetroxide) were identified even in locations where mmt^® is approved for use at levels up to 18 mg Mn/L. Depending on the regional needs and the vehicle emission control technology available, an mmt^® treat rate in the range of 8.3 mg/L to 18 mg/L is scientifically justified and may deliver both environmental and economic benefits without significant adverse effects.” 

To view the full summary of the assessment, please click here. We have also created a summary of the assessment as an infographic.

Economic Value – We work with you to achieve your profitability goals through joint testing and analysis of your gasoline production.

Customized Octane Delivery – We can tailor the delivery to meet your needs through on-site handling and storage analysis, custom engineered injection and storage system, training, after-service support using Afton's Quick Response(SM) 24/7 Cargo Treat Solutions

Security of Supply – As the world’s largest mmt^® supplier for over 30 years, Afton has provided uninterrupted supply through our global infrastructure, which is backed by six sigma, ISO-accredited production and global HS&E registration

Continued Product Assurance – You will have access to our multifunctional team with world-class expertise in additive development, vehicle testing, regulatory affairs, marketing and sales

Afton, HiTEC and mmt^® are registered trademarks owned by Afton Chemical Corporation or an affiliate. Quick Response(SM) 24/7 Cargo Treat Solutions is a service mark owned by Afton Chemical Corporation.