Aspen@AAOIL

to anyone who is looking into trying Aspen, please see our latest offer in our Aspen Forum - http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/aspen-fuel/18110-try-aspen-fuel-arbtalk-offer.html

Hi All I know a lot of you have been eager to get hold off some Aspen to try out but been put of due to the expensive freight charges of ordering small volumes, and not having a local dealer. Well here is the deal: Purchase 3, 6 or 9 cans of Aspen (5 litre containers) and get Free Freight! However, as we are losing money from this. We have to limit this deal to one order per NEW customer. I'm sure you are all aware of what Aspen is by now so i won't bore you with all the information or any more "shock tactics". But if for some reason you have missed out please check our other threads in the Aspen Forum. look forward to hearing from you and im sure you will be very happy with the fuel, just like many of the users on this forum. Please call our Office to place your order on 01929 555971 or 01929 555571 and please quote "Arbtalk try Aspen offer" Offer extended through August

Thanks for the feedback Robert. Good to hear your experience as a new user.

There are over 100 fuel stations in Sweden that have Aspen 2 and 4 at the pump - please see link below for contact details of each. http://www.aspen.se/Files/PDF/ovrigt/Bulk.PDF By PPE are you refering to the material we use to manufacture the five litre can? If so, we use High Density Poly Ethene. It's not a legal requirement as such, but it is one of the best and most common standard materials for plastic bottles and cans used for every chemical from engine oil to petrol. HDPE is also commonly recycled, and has the number "2" as its recycling symbol.

Due to the fact that Aspen does not contain any aromatics (solvents) the initial dispersing of fuel into the air in the carburettor is weaker resulting in a tweak of the low speed jet with approximately ¼ turn richer. Once at full speed Aspen should, although being less dense, run on the same (or very close to) high speed jetting. This will of course alter slightly between equipment. As Aspen contains no double bonded hydrocarbons (another word for Aromatics) the saturated hydrocarbons in Aspen break easier in the combustion process and therefore bond easier with the oxygen molecules hence the ability to run “leaner” at top end without loosing power compared to a aromatic rich pump fuel.

I think a general recommendation to open the “L”-jet 1/8 of a turn, if you experience bad throttle response, would reduce the trial and error time when setting the carburettor. In Sweden the dealer often starts a new saw with Aspen and makes the adjustment at delivery. It is not unusual that you need to open the “L” jet a little bit to improve engine response, when you change to Aspen. Normally this is enough and you can leave the main jet as it is. I haven´t heard about people needing a tacho to do the adjustment. Remember that normal petrol will change when the EU directive on ethanol is implemented and this will probably have a more significant effect on performance than switching to Aspen. The advantage with Aspen is that once you have adjusted the machine you will never have to change the setting again, since difference from batch to batch is minute. Also, less deposit build-up, will keep the engine more stable over time with Aspen. One strange thing though, is that in our experience you normally have more trouble with adjusting small and cheap engines, than you have the ones mentioned below.

Business case for the use of Aspen and comparison of risk assessment between Aspen and ordinary pump fuel - attached for review. Risk Assessment 25 03 10.pdf Professional Users - A case for Aspen.pdf

Aspen info, attached for reference. Aspen Product Info.pdf Aspen Comparison.pdf

Only 53off left at this price - will be limited to first come, first serve! StorageSolution.pdf

Well, benzene is contained in normal petrol at around 1%. Benzene is also formed when aromatics (Toluene, Xylene is combusted). Normal petrol contains up to 35% of aromatics – i.e. when used forms quite a lot of benzene. MTBE was first introduced into fuels in California to lower emissions and lower the forming of smog. MTBE is a chemical and contains no benzene, sulphur or aromatics. MTBE was allowed up to 15% in fuels and as MTBE contains 18% of oxygen the maximum oxygen levels achieved in normal pump fuels was 2.7%. However, recently MTBE has been found to contaminate groundwater (mainly from leaking underground tanks) and as MTBE is a stable chemical that will never break down this flagged up an unsolved issue. As a result MTBE was banned in fuels in the states. The solution to keep emission levels low was to exchange MTBE with Ethanol. Ethanol is an alcohol and does not contain aromatics, sulphur or benzene. As Ethanol contains approximately 33% oxygen the amount allowed was reduced to around 10-11% of total blend whilst increasing the maximum amount of oxygen in pump fuels to 3.7% which was determined to be the maximum amount of oxygen normal cars would be able to cope with. To use ethanol is also very popular due to its bio fuel status – that it is grown on acres where food were otherwise grown is another matter.. In the UK and in Europe the maximum amount of ethanol allowed is 5% resulting in 1.7% of oxygen. MTBE was occasionally used in pump fuels depending on availability and price – please remember that the specification of pump fuels is very broad and as a result what forecourt petrol contains varies all the time. But, right now it is a move (regulation) that oil companies have to include 5% average of bio fuels in fuels for cars and trucks. To be able to do this average the amount of ethanol is expected to peak at around 10% in Europe shortly. The question and statement that MTBE is replaced by alkylate is untrue. More true is that due to the fact that the sulphur levels of pump fuels have been lowered to a maximum of 10ppm from 50ppm since 1st of January 2010 has meant that if a batch of pump fuels has slightly over 10% of sulphur, motor alkylate (which is sulphur free) can been added to “purify” normal fuel (or by adding ethanol). But as motor alkylate is much more expensive than normal pump fuels this is done if it is absolutely necessary to “trim” fuel that is outside the specification. So MTBE has not been replaced by alkylate. It is being replaced by ethanol. Pump fuels still contain benzene (max 1%), sulphur (max 10ppm) and aromatics (max 35%) whereas Aspen only contains traces of benzene, sulphur and aromatics – in reality 0%. That is why you should use Aspen and not pump fuels. Hope that this clarify the situation. Also petroleum alkylate (or motor alkylate) is too expensive to use in pump fuels on a regular basis.

I have attached the Stihl letter to a seperate thread which has the Stihl technical advice telephone number on it. They are happy to give advice on the use of our fuel in their machines.

This letter is from Stihl stating that using Aspen fuel does not affect the warranty of any Stihl machine. Stihl approval letter Feb 2009.pdf

We have a "pick up" scheme for those users buying a pallet. When we deliver your new pallet we pick up the empties. We then send them to recycling facility where they are ground down into granules and recycled back into a usable material. We cannot re-use them for fuel as there is always a danger of contamination. Worse case sernario - if they are burnt, they produce water and co2, but this is not advisible if at all possible. In Sweden - Aspen is sold at the pump and dealers have large underground tanks containing Aspen. We are a way off this in the UK but we'd be happy to discuss the possibility of a "dealer bulk buying scheme". We are very keen to build our network of dealers as we believe this will benefit the end user in terms of price and availability. The benefit to the dealer is that their shop traffic will increase as users are coming back to buy the fuel at their shop rather than at the pump. However, many are put off by the low margin in fuel sales and have a belief that it's a hard product to sell. Unfortunately when Aspen started in the UK over ten years ago there was no marketing or sales support for the retailer - so many Husqvarna dealers took it on but didn't sell it, and now they think the product doesn't sell full stop! We believe with the right sales strategy, and at the right price, Aspen can be sold on the health benefits alone. Meaning - the benefits to the environment and machine are a bonus. I'd be happy to chat you you and your dealer to work out a plan moving forward. Please email or PM me.

Every litre of Aspen has fuel duty of 57p, but we are working to get this reduced as is the case in the rest of Europe.

Reply from Aspen Technical Chief in Sweden Benzene was never added, it is a natural ingredient in gasoline and is limited to 1% in Europe. Before 2005 it was 5%. Gasoline still contains benzene and above all it contains 35 % aromatics which will contribute to benzene in the exhausts equal to a gasloine containing 3% benzene. MTBE is also loosing ground and is now banned in the US and in some European countries like Denmark. Alkylate will not replace MTBE, no new production of alkylate is scheduled and ethanol with replace MTBE in some places. I don´t know where you got this information, but it doesn´t seem very reliable.

Reduced Ground Level Ozone Formation with Aspen The formation of ground level ozone, the most active component of smog, is a major environmental and health problem, caused by reactive hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, emitted by combustion engines. Ground level ozone is not only harmful for humans and animals, it also causes damages on agricultural crops for billions of pounds each year. Occationally smog problems have reached such levels, that local authorities in some European countries have enforced temporary restrictions for the use of cars and even lawn mowers. From the research conducted by professor William P.L. Carter, University of California and Ulf Östermark, Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, it can be shown that the use of Aspens alkylate petrol, substantially reduces the formation of ground level ozone. Different hydrocarbons have a different potential to form ground level ozone and Professor Carter has calculated the reactivity factors, MIR (Maximum Incremental Reactivity), for a large number of different hydrocarbons. Doctor Ulf Östermark has performed hydrocarbon speciation of the exhausts from different engines and fuels. These two reports show that the exhausts from a small two stroke engine, will form more than 40 % less ground level ozone, if Aspen Petrol is used instead of normal European unleaded 95. More information is available from: Lantmännen Aspen Petroleum AB Iberovägen 2 SE-430 63 Hindås Sweden Phone: +46 –(0)301- 23 00 00, or Fax +46- (0)301- 23 00 99 Konsument - Aspen [email protected]

1) What is the life cycle analysis energy input into producing this fuel ? About 67 to 80 % of the energy in, in the form of natural gas or flare gas becomes products, e.c: Liquid, synthetic fuels, synthetic chemicals, steam and electricity. The alternative: These flare gases are flared instead means 100 % energy waste and 0 % energy efficiency. 2) What is its cetane and calorific value? Cetane: About 55. Calorific value per kg: 47 megajoules. Density: 0.80 kg/litre. 3) What is its flash point? About 94 to 98 degrees C. 4) What level of lubricity does it have for fuel pump durability? Extremely good lubricity. HFRR wear scar value of: 250 to 300 micrometres (µm). What is it's overall net CO2 contribution? a) If natural gas is used, there is a decrease in comparison to crude oil inclusive fossile CO2 emissions from gas flaring and fossile CO2 emissions from oil refining, is a fossile CO2 reduction of about 30 %. b) If the flare gases are used for the synthesis of liquid, synthetic fuels, the decrease of fossile CO2 (in comparison to the gas flaring) is 65 to 80 % depending on how successfully you use the biproduct: heat/steam. If you flare gases, or first synthesise liquid fuels and combust them in a diesel engine gives exactly the same emissions of fossil CO2, BUT: You compete out certain volumes of crude oil based diesel oil with the liquid, synthetic fuel. That fact gives rise to decreasees of fossil CO2 emissions. By other simpler words: When you stop wasting energy by e.g. gas flaring, and starts to use the energy in e.g. the gas flares, then you need to pump up less crude oil and gases per year. That fact gives rise to large fossile CO2 reductions. The potential is: A worldwide decrease of 250 to 400 million tonnes of fossile CO2 per year. 6) What is its fuel survivivor of CH4 (slippage) ratio in a variety of engines? Liquid, synthetic, paraffinic fuels do NOT contain methane!!!!!!! Nor will methane be formed during the combustion in the diesel engine.

Appologies for the delay - we are just waiting for clarification on MTBE's and the use of alkylate in normal pump fuel, specifically in the UK. Please bear with us on this point, as we want to be 100% accurate.

Point taken - that is why we would reccomend you use it as and when you need to, or offer your customer a 'low impact fuel option' quote along side your usual quote. We have found that some, not all, customers are happy to pay the extra cost if they are ticking their "green/environment/footprint" box. There may also be cases, if working with environment agency, local authories, near aquatic life, on a SSSI site, or working in a confined space where EcoPar and/or Aspen would be the best option. It can also help you stand out from the crowd by being a green alternative to the norm so in some ways it can improve your chances of winning work. As with Aspen, EcoPar has a long storage life of over 5 years so keeping 60 litres in stock for a specific job is a realistic option, or we can deliver to a site within 48 hours if you don't have the space to stock extra fuel.

We have documented tests by Scania and Volvo who have been testing EcoPar for over five years in Sweden. Just drop me a PM and include your email address and I will send you copies of all reports and analysis. You will be interested to read the conclusions about EcoPar.

We have a storage solution that is heavily discounted. £108.00 plus VAT. It can be bolted to the floor and is lockable and non flammable. Other than that we recommend you speak to a fire officer or carry out a usual risk assessment. But it is often common sense. ie. Don't store it near an electrical power supply etc...

Free carriage starts at 2 drums or 54 cans of the five litre but for all ArbTalk members we can offer a special discount on their first drum. Just quote - arbtalk offer1

In terms of Aspen 2 - if bought directly from us at AAOIL we can supply you a pallet (54 - five litre cans) with free carriage at £11.03 each - 54 would be = £595.62 Or you could buy a 200 litre drum for £421.35 (price are excl. VAT) Aspen has a shelf life of up to 5 years and the Aspen 2 is pre-mixed with 2% fully synthetic biodegradable 2 stroke oil. If you would like to order a smaller amount to trial we could work out a deal on the carriage. e. [email protected] t. 01929 555975

Aspen has a shelf life of up to 5 years. 54 cans of 5 litre is 270 litres. At £11.03 for 5 litres 54 would be = £595.62 Or you could buy a 200 litre drum for £421.35 (price are excl. VAT)