The SFA News & Press Release Page

Wintara, Inc. and SFA enter into a working agreement.

April, 2008. Wintara, Inc. and SFA International, Inc. have entered into an agreement whereby SFA will provide its products, services and technology to Wintara customers.  Wintara provides technology, engineering, construction and maintenance support services to the U.S. Department of Defense, other federal agencies, commercial clients, and foreign governments focusing on infrastructure modernization and electric power generation.  Integrating capabilities throughout Wintara's team of managers and supplier operations with SFA's products and technology will enable delivery of superior customized and cost effective solutions for our customers.  Wintara specializes in rapid response to critical requirements, world-wide, under normal and hostile conditions.

SFA develops a new high magnesium concentration sulfonate product line.

February, 2008.  SFA International announces a new 30% magnesium sulfonate product line for use in combustion turbine applications.  This product is similar to the old M-14 type product with much higher concentrations of magnesium.  It has the same clear brown appearance, exceptional tolerance to water and excellent miscibility in crude oil and other fuels.  This product has contaminant metal specifications required to meet combustion turbine manufacturer requirements in fuels and additives for their engines. 

This new product as a much lower viscosity and density than M-14.  SFA has formulated a series of products that are identical to products based on M-14 in weight of magnesium per unit of weight, volume and drum of product.  As a result, these new products are totally interchangeable with M-14 based formulations.

SFA can provide these products in a range of concentrations from 11% to 30% in quantities ranging from individual drums to container quantities.

SFA increases concentration of magnesium in carboxylate product lines.

February, 2008.  SFA International announces the increase of concentration of magnesium in its carboxylate product lines for combustion turbines and steam boilers to 35%.  This will allow for more efficient use of freight and storage in use of these products.  The new product has the same low viscosity as in our previous 30% magnesium product.

SFA can provide this product in a range of concentrations from 11% to 35% in quantities ranging from individual drums to container quantities.

Fourth U.S. Patent Issues.  Foreign filings based on U. S. Patents are granted.

April 2008.  U. S. Patent Application No. 10/424,415, April 28, 2003.  This U.S. application is in the final stages of the office action process.  This is for application of a unique particle size range of the colloidal dispersion catalyst in industrial applications including combustion turbines with improved performance over larger particle size ranges.

U. S. Patent No. 7,229,482, June 12, 2007.  "Method of Reducing Smoke and Particulate Emissions from Steam Boilers and Heaters Operating on Solid Fossil Fuels"

A method of reducing smoke and particulate emissions from steam boilers and process heaters operating on solid fuel by adding a fuel additive which contains an oil-dispersible iron compound and an over-based magnesium compound to the solid fuel.  New studies reveal that SFA's combustion catalyst products can reduce NOx in coal exhaust gases by up to 80%.

U. S. Patent No. 6,986,327, January 17, 2006.  "A Method of Reducing Smoke and Particulate Emissions from Steam Boilers and Heaters Operating on Liquid Petroleum Fuels."

A method of reducing smoke and particulate emissions from steam boilers and process heaters operating on liquid petroleum fuel by adding a fuel additive which contains an oil-dispersible iron compound and an over-based magnesium compound to liquid fuel.

U. S. Patent No. 6,881,235, April 19, 2005.  "Method of Reducing Smoke and Particulate Emissions from Spark-Ignited Reciprocating Engines Operating on Liquid Petroleum Fuels."

A method of reducing smoke and particulate emissions from an exhaust gas from a spark-ignited reciprocating engine by adding a fuel additive which contains an oil-soluble iron compound and an over-based magnesium compound to liquid petroleum fuel.

A patent based on U. S. Patent No. 6,881,235 has issued in Saudi Arabia. 

U. S. Patent No. 6,866,020, March 15, 2005. "Method of Reducing Smoke and Particulate Emissions from Compression-Ignited Reciprocating Engines Operating on Liquid Petroleum Fuels."

A method of reducing smoke and particulate emissions from an exhaust gas from a compression-ignited reciprocating engine by adding a fuel additive that contains an oil-soluble iron compound and an over-based magnesium compound to liquid petroleum fuel.

Foreign patents based on this patent have issued in Canada, China, India, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. 

Applications based on U. S. Patent No. 6,866,020 have been filed in the following countries; Brazil,  Korea, The Philippines, and twenty-eight European countries covered by the European Patent Treaty (PCT). 

The Emmett Company joins the SFA Distributor Network

September 19, 2006.  The Emmett Company, headed by Edward Emmett, Chief Executive Officer, has joined SFA as a distributor.  The Emmett Company is an international consultancy specializing in transportation policy.  Mr. Emmett is a former Commissioner of the United States Interstate Commerce Commission and is former chairman of the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Energy.  He is a member of the Board of Advisors for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, having been appointed by President George W. Bush.  In 2005, Mr. Emmett was named Person of the Year by Transportation Clubs International.  In the Spring of 2007, Mr. Emmett became County Judge of Harris County, Texas.  As Chief Executive of Harris County, he supervises the Board of Commissioners.  Harris County has an operating budget of over $2 billion and a population of 4 million. 

The Emmett Company will represent SFA in the railroad industry in the United States and several foreign countries.  The Emmett Company has specific geographic exclusivity in Australia.

Locomotives' emissions a real threat

Years of faulty estimates have put pressure on the government to act.

August 15, 2006.  In an article written by Juliet Eilperin of the Washington Post and published in the Houston Chronicle today, it was reported that scientists have made a startling discovery that faulty estimates have understated the amount of pollution generated annually by Diesel powered railway locomotives.  It is estimated that Diesel locomotives will release more than 800,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and 25,000 tons of soot every year within a quarter century.

Research has linked soot and smog to premature heart attacks as well as lung disease and childhood asthma.  "This is compelling evidence that EPA should move aggressively to clean up this major source of soot and smog," said Frank O'Donnell, who heads the advocacy group Clean Air Watch.  The complete article can be accessed by clicking on this sentence.

SFA International has developed a combustion catalyst system that reduces soot and particulate matter in engine exhausts by 90% compared with a maximum of 50% reduction reported in the literature for catalysts.  SFA has filed five U.S. patents on this technology; three have issued and two are in final stages of office action.  SFA has filed patent protection in thirty two foreign countries. 

For more information about SFA products, refer to the "Products" page on this web site.

President of SFA invited on Economic Development Mission to China July 14 - 22, 2006

July 2006.  Dr. Walter R. May, president of SFA, and his wife, Cheryl, were invited on an Economic Development Mission to China.  This trip was set up by the Mayor's Office of International Affairs and Development, City of Houston, Texas and led by Bill White, Mayor of Houston. 

The group visited Shanghai, Dalian and Beijing.  Dr. May visited specific customers and made presentations on SFA products to representatives of the Chinese Government and the cities visited.  There is considerable interest in SFA combustion catalysts to improve fuel consumption and reduce pollution.

SFA holds a patent in China on the application of its unique combustion catalyst in Diesel engine applications. 

Mrs. Cheryl Ann Duthie May is Chairman of the regional Mayor's International Affairs and Development Council - Europe.  This committee coordinates business and cultural events between Houston and European countries.  Mrs. May is a member of the Executive Board of the Mayor's Office of International Affairs and Development which oversees the seven regional MIADCs in Houston.

SFA Concludes Testing at Southwest Research Institute under Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Grant

May 2006.  SFA concluded the basic Proof of Concept testing of the iron-magnesium combustion catalyst under the TCEQ grant awarded in 2005.  The Final Report from SFA and SwRI are posted on the TCEQ web site and can be obtained from the "Support" page on this web site.  The test was carried out for 74:40 hours on Tex-LED fuel at 25% engine load in a 360 hp Diesel truck engine. 

 Fuel consumption reduced 5.7% from beginning to end of the test, NOx reduced by 3.8% and particulate emissions were reduced by 11%.  More than 50% of the metallic oxides were captured indicating that the catalyst is a good candidate for EPA Registration for over-the-road applications.  These are highly significant results in view of the length of time of the test, engine load and quality of fuel.

SFA Combustion Catalysts have been tested by six independent laboratories.

May 2006.  With completion of the Southwest Researach Institute testing, SFA's combustion catalysts have now been tested by six independent laboratories.  Two tests each have been carried out in combustion turbines, boilers and Diesel engines.  The results have demonstrated independently more than 90% reduction in particulate matter compared with 50% found in the literature.  Significant reduction in fuel consumption has been found in Diesel engines varying with load, fuel and operating conditions.  Reports on these tests are available on the "Support" page of this web site.

SFA International's Web Site Has a New look

September 2005. We have been working on SFA's web site to make it more informative and helpful to our customers, distributors and those interested in our area of technology. This has involved adding a Technical Support page and making the product pages more informative. We have just taken the last step in this process by giving the web site a new look. Our logo has a new font. We have rearranged navigation aids to make them easier to use. We have made information easier to find on our site. We hope you like it. Please give us your feed back.

SFA International and FuelSpec Chemicals present Paper

August 2005. SFA International and its distributor, FuelSpec Chemicals, will present a paper at the 11th Annual Diesel Environmental Emissions Reduction Conference in Chicago on August 22nd. This refereed paper presents new data on reduction of particulate matter in combustion turbine, steam boiler and Diesel engine exhausts. The paper will be presented by Mr. Edward A.Hirs, III, president of FuelSpec Chemicals. A copy of the paper is available on this web site on the Library page.

SFA Divests Consulting Business

June 2005. In order to concentrate more fully on its core chemical business, SFA moved the consulting and expert witness activities to Walter May and Associates. Walter May and Associates was formed in 2000 by Walter May, founder and president of SFA International. Walter May and Associates provides business and technical consulting services, intellectual property protection and expert witness services. You may reach Walter May and Associates at www.WalterMayAssociates.com.

Value-Added Residual Oil

May 2005. SFA made a major marketing and application breakthrough with use of its catalyst system in a value-added residual oil treated at a refinery. Residual oil use is restricted to industrial use. Heavy metals and high molecular weight compounds are concentrated in this product. This frequently leads to deposit and corrosion issues as well as problems with stack emissions and pollution. By treating the fuel at the refinery before distribution to customers, the catalyst is introduced to the fuel and the customer operates equipment more efficiently and with less pollution by particulate matter in the engine exhaust.

TCEQ Awards Research and Development Grant to SFA International

April 2005. On April 20th, 2005, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced the award of $655,750 in air pollution reduction grants under the New Technology Research and Development (NTRD) program, an innovative program developed by the Texas Legislature to provide financial incentives to encourage and support research, development and commercialization of technologies to reduce pollution in Texas.

SFA International is the recipient of a grant to study the effects of its iron-magnesium bi-metallic combustion catalyst at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. This work will carefully evaluate the effect of the catalyst on emissions and fuel consumption in Diesel engines using commercially available Diesel fuel. It is expected that this work will lead to EPA Registration for use in over-the-road vehicles.

For further information on this and similar grants, go to http://www.tceq.state.tx.us and www.terpgrants.org.

New Combustion Catalyst Technology

December 2004 - SFA International has developed a new combustion catalyst technology that reduces particulate emissions far beyond levels reported for other catalyst systems in the chemical literature. The system is available in oil-soluble form at relatively low concentrations of metal and in colloidal dispersions with up to 18% iron concentration. The new technology is based on oil-soluble iron and magnesium combination with unusually low particle size - the colloidal dispersion system has a median particle size less than 0.01 micron particle size.

The catalyst in the combustion reaction follows classic laws of catalysis. The product has been used in combustion turbines up to 150 MW in size, a range of Diesel engines from 1.6 liter to 3.0 MW and in boilers up to 300 MW. In carefully conducted tests by government agencies, the product has demonstrated up to 90% reduction in particulate emissions.

The product has shown consistently 15% reduction in fuel consumption in Diesel engines. Calculations demonstrate that elimination of emissions and more efficient combustion account for this surprising increase in efficiency. Emissions from magnesium and iron oxide in the exhaust contributed by the catalyst are less than current Euro standards for particulate emissions.

Dr. Walter R. May, President of SFA and developer of this technology, was invited to give a paper on these discoveries at the IORS meeting in Bombay, September 2002. He was also invited to participate in the Aramco Technical Exchange Meeting at the Research Center, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in April 2003. Copies of these papers are available in our virtual technical paper library.

HCCI Engines a Path to Lower Fuel Consumption

September 2004. HCCI technology is being explored by a number of auto-makers as a way of achieving improved fuel efficiency without the fixed costs and technology issues with hybrid gas-electric systems. This technology, "homogeneous-charge compression-ignition", is a blend of spark-ignited and compression-ignited engine technology. In today's fuel injected gasoline engines, fuel is sprayed into the manifold at the inlet valve outside the piston chamber and sucked into the engine with air on the piston down-stroke. The fuel mixture is ignited with a spark plug on the compression stroke.

A Diesel engine involved injecting fuel into the chamber at the apex of the compression stroke when gasses are heated sufficiently to ignite the fuel. While the Diesel engine has higher fuel efficiency, this system leads to higher NOx and particulate emissions. The blending of the technologies in a gasoline engine by injecting the fuel directly into the piston chamber at maximum compression will lead to Diesel-like efficiency at hopefully lower pollution. An article on this subject appeared in the Wall Street Journal September 28, 2004 about this technology and can be accessed on the web site.

It is believed that SFA's catalyst technology can help the HCCI engine reduce pollution and improve fuel efficiency.

Web Changes

This is where we'll announce the most recent additions to our web site. If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first.

News Releases Archives

These are the news releases we've issued over the past year. You may want to search for topics by keyword.

This portion of our site is still under construction. Come back soon!!

Recent Media Coverage of SFA

This portion of our site remains under construction, come back soon! You may also be interested in reading Technical Papers and Articles recently published by SFA professionals, technicians, and scientists. You can review those published technical articles through our SFA Library web page.

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