Unifuel offers Flexiforming, a modular retrofit kit that equips idle naphtha hydrotreaters or catalytic reformers with a proprietary zeolite‑based catalyst to convert low‑value naphtha, ethanol, methanol and other light feeds into high‑octane gasoline, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) or BTX aromatics. The technology leverages existing plant infrastructure, delivers conversion margins above $100 per ton, rapid payback (often under 20 months), and generates net hydrogen for additional revenue.
Funding
$3M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
2OTVFounders
Product
Problem
Oil refineries and HEFA plants often have underutilized naphtha hydrotreaters (NHT) or catalytic reformers, leading to lost revenue from low‑value naphtha, alcohols, and renewable naphtha by‑products. These streams generate modest margins and cannot easily be upgraded to higher‑value fuels such as high‑octane gasoline, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), or aromatic kerosene.
Solution
Unifuel’s Flexiforming technology retrofits existing idle NHTs or reformers with a proprietary zeolite‑based catalyst to convert low‑value naphtha, ethanol, methanol, and other light feeds into high‑octane gasoline, SAF, or BTX aromatics. The process is modular, requiring only piping changes and new catalyst loading, and can be phased to generate immediate gasoline margins before adding downstream SAF capability. Flexiforming also produces net hydrogen, which can be sold or used on‑site, further improving economics. By leveraging existing plant infrastructure, the solution delivers conversion margins above $100 /ton, rapid payback (often under 20 months), and a pathway to fully drop‑in SAF with synthetic aromatic kerosene.
Target Audience
Primary customers are oil refiners with idle or under‑utilized naphtha hydrotreaters/catalytic reformers and HEFA plant operators seeking to monetize renewable naphtha by‑products and produce SAF‑compatible fuels.
Features
- Zeolite HZSM‑5 catalyst with 3–5 year lifetime, patented in 12 countries, stable to high temperature and steam
- Feedstock flexibility: processes renewable or fossil naphtha, ethanol, methanol, LPG, light olefins, and ethers
- Adjustable operating conditions (temperature, pressure, space velocity) to shift product slate between gasoline, kerosene (SAF) and BTX aromatics
- Modular retrofit kit that integrates into existing NHT or catalytic reformer with minimal piping modifications
- Net hydrogen production enabling additional revenue or on‑site fuel savings (valued at $5 /kg or higher)
- Phased deployment: initial gasoline upgrade, optional HEFA naphtha co‑feed for lower carbon intensity, and later SAF production with added reactor and recycle loops
- Economic modeling tool to estimate plant‑specific EBITDA improvements (e.g., $7–13 M annual EBITDA for a 3,000 bpd unit)