This hydrocarbon is added to gasoline to help produce a more efficient and less polluting blend of gasoline. But at present, the production of iso-octane poses serious problems in oil refineries. The liquid acids such as sulfuric and hydrofluoric acid used to produce this chemical are highly corrosive and very toxic when handled. As well, disposal of these acids is another major threat to the environment. Dalai and his research team will substitute less corrosive solid acids for liquid acids to make iso-octane.
Solid acids are more environmentally friendly because the volume of waste for disposal is less.
Among his many projects relating to Canada's oil industry, Dalai has been working on technology for upgrading of heavy oil, bitumen, and pitch to produce liquid fuels. A patent on this project is under consideration. Dalai joined the U of S in 1996 in the Department of Chemical Engineering. He has presented 50 papers at international conferences, published 22 research papers in referred journals, and written 30 reports for various funding agencies. The program was implemented in 1995 due to the growing concern by universities that some of Canada's most prominent young scholars were leaving the country to conduct their research elsewhere.