The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) recently released a report detailing the results of its pilot on the efficacy of different tracer candidates to both authenticate and quantify biofuel volumes. A series of supply chain trials, that began in July 2022 were completed in 2024, forming a key part of GCMD’s initiative to develop a framework that provides assurances on the quality, quantity, and GHG emissions abatement of drop-in green fuels.
Authentix was proud to support GCMD in two supply chain trials by providing a proprietary fuel tracer specifically designed for these biofuels used in the maritime industry. The latest trial, in Singapore took place in August 2024 while the first trial in Rotterdam, Netherlands, took place in May 2024. In both trials, the Authentix tracer was utilized to quantify and verify the biofuel content throughout the supply chain.
The Authentix MSX tracer, an organic marker composed solely of carbon and hydrogen was consistently and successfully detected and quantified at all sampling locations. At parts per billion (ppb) concentrations in the biofuel blends, detection results were highly accurate with less than 5% discrepancy reported. The report also suggests that the Authentix biofuel tracer was the most cost competitive among all the tracer options explored. With the biofuel tracer’s consistent and quantitative detection capacities, the Authentix tracer was deemed the most practical solution, balancing cost, detectability, and scalability.
For more information, the full report Tracers for biofuels authentication: Evaluating the efficacy of tracer technologies in marine fuel supply chains by the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation can be accessed here: https://www.gcformd.org/our-publications/?report-id=8514