Researchers there say the technology is enabling more reliable, certification-relevant testing as industry demand for SAF accelerates.
Anton Paar’s analytical technologies have become a core component of the University of Sheffield’s efforts to develop and validate next-generation sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), as demand rises across the aviation and fuel-supply sectors for robust, standardised testing. The company’s portfolio of density meters, viscosity instruments, flash-point testers and oxidation analysers has been integrated into the Energy Innovation Centre’s (EIC) laboratory workflow, supporting both early-stage research and commercial-facing development programmes.
According to EIC staff, a major driver for selecting the equipment has been the need for precise, repeatable data on key SAF parameters – from viscosity and density to oxidation stability and distillation behaviour. These measurements underpin core aspects of global fuel-certification frameworks, including ASTM and DEF STAN specifications, and are becoming increasingly important as new SAF production pathways emerge.
The centre currently employs a suite of Anton Paar instruments, including the DSA 5000 M, SVM 3001, PMA 500, RapidOxy 100 and Diana 700. Together, they deliver automated, reproducible testing that reduces operator variability – a point highlighted by EIC Laboratory Manager Hansini Rathnayake Mudiyanselage, who described the tools as “accurate, user-friendly, and safe,” noting their significance in delivering high-impact research projects.
A strategic requirement
Beyond the hardware, Anton Paar provides maintenance support and calibration services, using ISO 17034-certified reference materials to maintain measurement integrity. This service element has been significant during the EIC’s recent expansion, according to Senior Research Fellow Dr. Ehsan Alborzi, who credits the company’s responsiveness and technical expertise as reasons it was invited to participate in multiple equipment tenders.
As SAF innovation moves from laboratory exploration toward certification and commercial scaling, testing infrastructure is becoming a strategic requirement. With Anton Paar’s instrumentation embedded in Sheffield’s research ecosystem, the EIC is now preparing to deploy more advanced analytical approaches to support early-stage SAF readiness levels — work expected to influence future certification timelines.
For a sector under pressure to decarbonise rapidly, Anton Paar’s role at the EIC highlights how precision measurement and rigorous testing frameworks are becoming essential components of the SAF transition.
Image provided by Anton Paar