New Fuel Sparks Military Interest

A new solid cooking biofuel made from UK sourced ethanol which can help militaries cut their costs will be launched at the Defence and Security event, DSEI, (10-13 Sep, Excel Centre, London), by military and survival gear specialists, BCB International.

FireDragon Cooker

Many NATO currently issue hexamine fuel to their troops for cooking in the field and are looking to move to a replacement fuel due to the dangers that hexamine presents to the health of soldiers as BCB International’s Chief Chemist, Dr Stephen Hughes, explained: “Hexamine is a potentially dangerous and outdated substance; burning it can give off cyanide.   Soldiers are out there protecting our security but they need protecting themselves from preventable contact with toxic materials which can have a detrimental impact on their health and wellbeing.

“That’s why we teamed up with world leading experts at Cardiff University’s Chemistry Department to formulate and develop the ‘FireDragon’ fuel which will help soldiers cook their rations quickly, safeguard their health, protect the environment as well as help Militaries reduce their logistics and medical costs.   As it is non-toxic, unlike hexamine the FireDragon fuel can be packed with rations.  Another benefit about the fuel is that when required, it can double as a waterless hand sanitizer – helping reduce the number of soldiers suffering from dysentery which has blighted troops for generations.”

As Dr. Hughes went on to explain, the fuel is more than a match for similar alternative fuels: “One tablet of FireDragon fuel (27 grams) can boil 500 ml of water in 5 minutes; that’s on average two minutes faster than the competition.  It can even be ignited whilst wet.

“Whether in driving rain, in the the freezing arctic or in searing heat, the fuel will perform in extreme conditions.”