This phenomenon is especially prevalent with fuel oil utilized for heating systems. Unfortunately, fuel oil line systems are often stand-by systems, thereby allowing the fuel oil to sit unused for lengthy amounts of time, allowing repolymerization to occur. Many fuel companies will periodically pump and filter the standby fuel supplies to remove sludge.
As the rate of repolymerization is a direct function of age and energy input into the fuel, this does more harm than good, unless the polymerized agglomerates are depolymerized and dispersed. The Fuel Ox®’s stabilizer will help prevent the repolymerization of the fuel that typically occurs during storage.
Another issue resulting in repolymerization of fuel is the presence of various microbial strains naturally present within the fuel oil. These bacteria feed on nitrogen, sulfur and iron oxides present in the fuel. The bacteria themselves provide a surface for repolymerization. Therefore, growth of the bacteria result in increased agglomeration. Consequently, it is helpful to provide a biostatic agent within the composition to reduce microbial growth. Additionally, it acts as a corrosion inhibitor to prevent iron (which can be present both naturally in the fuel or as part of the invention as the organometallic compound) from oxidizing. This has a side benefit of inhibiting bacteria (naturally present in the fuel) from feeding on nitrogen, sulfur, and iron oxides in the fuel. The Fuel Ox’s biocide eliminates bacterial growth.
One consequence with the combustion of fuel is the resulting harmful emissions. Automobile engines typically utilize catalytic converters, a large cumbersome device that catalyzes reactions to reduce emissions in the automobile’s exhaust gases. A catalytic converter contains small beads that are coated with metals, such as palladium and platinum.